View source for Ed Podolak

{{Short description|American football player (born 1947)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Ed Podolak
| image       = EdPodolakHeadshot.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = 
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1947|09|1}}
| birth_place = [[Atlantic, Iowa]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| number      = 14
| position    = [[Running back]]
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lbs  = 204
| college     = [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa]]
| high_school = [[Atlantic High School (Iowa)|Atlantic]]
| draftyear   = 1969
| draftround  = [[1969 NFL/AFL draft#Round two|2]]
| draftpick   = 48
| pastteams   = * [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ([[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|1969]]–[[1977 Kansas City Chiefs season|1977]])
| highlights  = * [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl IV|IV]])
* [[American Football League#AFL Championship Games|AFL champion]] ([[1969 American Football League Championship Game|1969]])
* [[Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame]]
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1968 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1968]])
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 4,451
| statlabel2  = Rush attempts
| statvalue2  = 1,157
| statlabel3  = [[Touchdown|Rushing TD]]s
| statvalue3  = 34
| statlabel4  = Receiving yards
| statvalue4  = 2,456
| statlabel5  = Games played
| statvalue5  = 104
| pfr         = PodoEd00 
}}
'''Edward Joseph Podolak''' (born September 1, 1947) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] for nine seasons with the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] of the [[American Football League]] (AFL) and [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|Iowa Hawkeyes]].

==Early life==
Ed Podolak was born on a small farm near [[Atlantic, Iowa]] on September 1, 1947. His father, Joe was a farmer and a military veteran and his mother Dorothy was a school teacher. Ed worked on the farm, played baseball in the summer, football in the fall, and basketball in the winter,  his parents allowing him to curtail his farm work during his athletic events. The [[Atlantic High School (Iowa)|Atlantic High School]] Trojan football teams went undefeated in Podolak's junior and senior seasons, as Ed quarterbacked the team, winning conference titles both years. The Atlantic Trojan basketball team made it to two state tournament appearances, with Podolak playing forward. Following high school, [[Iowa State Cyclones football|Iowa State University]] hired Podolak's high school coach, Howard Justice, to coach quarterbacks, but Podolak chose to attend the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|University of Iowa]].<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://mosportshalloffame.com/inductees/ed-podolak/|title=Ed Podolak}}</ref>

==College football career==
In this era, college freshmen were not eligible to play varsity sports, but Podolak won the starting quarterback job for Iowa as a sophomore. In his first college start, Podolak was named “Offensive Player of the Week” after the game against the [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona Wildcats]], a 42–7 Iowa victory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071754019/643|title=November 04, 1967 (vol. 78, iss. 57) - Image 7|website=Michigan Daily Digital Archives}}</ref> After starting at quarterback for two and a half years for the Hawkeyes, he moved to tailback, five games into his senior season, because of an injury to the starting tailback. He set a Hawkeye and Big 10 rushing record of 286 yards in his second start at running back.<ref name="auto3"/>

In Podolak's [[college football]] career at the [[Iowa Hawkeyes football|University of Iowa]], he was a [[quarterback]] for two seasons before converting to [[running back]]. As a quarterback, Podolak threw 28 interceptions and eight touchdowns, but he excelled as a running back in 1968, rushing for 937 yards and eight touchdowns while gaining an average of six yards per carry,  also catching 12 passes for 188 yards and another score.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ed-podolak-1.html | title=Ed Podolak College Stats }}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.swiowanewssource.com/atlantic/sports/article_5c6ae243-74fd-538f-9663-8da09cb3dae2.html|title=Atlantic native Ed Podolak named to Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame|first=Brian NT Sports|last=Rathjen |website=The Southwest Iowa News Source}}</ref>

In 1968, Podolak rushed for a then–Big Ten record with 286 yards on 17 carries in the Hawkeyes' 68–34 victory over [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]]. Podolak earned All–Big 10 honors following the 1968 season.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/iowa/football/ed-podolak-hall|title=Ed Podolak Takes Rightful Place in UI Hall of Fame|first=Rick|last=Brown|website=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

==Professional football career==
Podolak was selected in the [[1969 NFL/AFL draft#Round two|second round]] of the [[1969 NFL/AFL draft]], 48th overall, by the [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]], and the team won [[Super Bowl IV]] in his rookie season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan/1969.htm|title=1969 Kansas City Chiefs Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1969/draft.htm | title=1969 NFL Draft Listing | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref>

During a nine-year career from [[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|1969]] to [[1977 Kansas City Chiefs season|1977]], Podolak became the Chiefs' all-time leading rusher with 4,451 yards and 34 touchdowns on 1,158 carries. He was also known for his work as a pass receiver, catching 288 passes for 2,456 yards and six touchdowns and as a return man on special teams, averaging 8.6 yards per punt and 20.5 yards per kickoff return. His 8,178 career combined yards are the second-most in the team's history. Podolak led the Chiefs in rushing four times, in receiving three times, and in punt returns three times.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PodoEd00.htm|title=Ed Podolak Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref>

In the Chiefs' [[1971–72 NFL playoffs#AFC: Miami Dolphins 27, Kansas City Chiefs 24 (2OT)|playoff loss]] to the [[1971 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] on Christmas Day in 1971 (still the longest game in NFL history), Podolak had a playoff-record 350 total yards: 85 rushing, 110 receiving, and 155 on returns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/one-done-ed-podolaks-christmas-marathon-game-for-the-1971-kansas-city-chiefs|title=One & Done: Ed Podolak's Christmas marathon game for the 1971 Kansas City Chiefs|website=FOX Sports}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/nfl/50th-anniversary-podolak-interview|title=50th Anniversary Salute: Reliving NFL's Longest Game with Chiefs' Ed Podolak|first=Clark|last=Judge|website=Sports Illustrated Talk Of Fame Network}}</ref> Podolak, who wore jersey number 14, was inducted into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1989.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chiefs.com/hallofhonor/players/edpodolak|title=Official Website of the Kansas City Chiefs &#124; Chiefs.com|website=Kansas City Chiefs}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="6"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Y/G !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! FR
|-
! [[1969 American Football League season|1969]] || style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1969 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 4 || 0 || colspan="11"|''did not record any rushing stats'' || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] || [[1970 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 9 || 168 || '''749''' || '''4.5''' || 53.5 || '''65''' || 3 || 26 || 307 || 11.8 || '''59''' || 1 || 6 || '''1'''
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] || [[1971 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 13 || 11 || 184 || 708 || 3.8 || '''54.5''' || 25 || '''9''' || 36 || 252 || 7.0 || 23 || 0 || 5 || 0
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] || [[1972 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 13 || 10 || 171 || 615 || 3.6 || 47.3 || 30 || 4 || 46 || 345 || 7.5 || 27 || '''2''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''10''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[1973 NFL season|1973]] || [[1973 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 13 || '''210''' || 721 || 3.4 || 51.5 || 25 || 3 || '''55''' || '''445''' || 8.1 || 25 || 0 || 7 || '''1'''
|-
! [[1974 NFL season|1974]] || [[1974 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 9 || 8 || 101 || 386 || 3.8 || 42.9 || 14 || 2 || 43 || 306 || 7.1 || 26 || 1 || 4 || 0
|-
! [[1975 NFL season|1975]] || [[1975 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 14 || 4 || 102 || 351 || 3.4 || 25.1 || 25 || 3 || 37 || 332 || 9.0 || 21 || 2 || 3 || 0
|-
! [[1976 NFL season|1976]] || [[1976 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 10 || 4 || 88 || 371 || 4.2 || 37.1 || 22 || 5 || 13 || 156 || '''12.0''' || 23 || 0 || 2 || 0
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] || [[1977 Kansas City Chiefs season|KC]]
| 13 || 6 || 133 || 550 || 4.1 || 42.3 || 41 || 5 || 32 || 313 || 9.8 || 23 || 0 || 2 || '''1'''
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PodoEd00.htm Career] || 104 || 65 || 1,157 || 4,451 || 3.8 || 42.8 || 65 || 34 || 288 || 2,456 || 8.5 || 59 || 6 || 42 || 4
|}

==Broadcasting career==
After retirement, Podolak turned to broadcasting. He worked as a [[color commentator]] for NFL telecasts on [[NFL on NBC|NBC]] in 1978. In 1982, he began working as a commentator for Iowa Hawkeye football games on [[WHO (AM)|WHO]] radio in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] and a statewide network. He worked with [[play-by-play]] announcer [[Jim Zabel]] until 1996 and then with [[Gary Dolphin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/columnists/chad-leistikow/2019/09/05/iowa-hawkeyes-football-ed-podolak-50-years-super-bowl-kansas-city-chiefs-gary-dolphin-tony-romo/2209937001/|title=Leistikow: In-depth with Ed Podolak, 50 years after Super Bowl season with Kansas City Chiefs|first=Chad|last=Leistikow|website=Hawk Central}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2022/08/31/theyre-a-lot-of-talk-but-iowa-hawkeyes-broadcasters-know-their-business-too/|title=They're a lot of talk … but Iowa Hawkeyes' broadcasters know their business, too.|date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> Podolak announced on April 22, 2024, that he is retiring from his role as color analyst after 42 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Ed Podolak announces he’s done calling Hawkeye games after 42 years |url=https://who13.com/news/ed-podolak-announces-hes-leaving-hawkeye-radio-booth-after-42-years/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=who13.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
*Podolak was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1989.<ref name="auto1"/>
*The Iowa High School Athletic Association inducted Podolak into its Football Hall of Fame in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iahsaa.org/achieve/football-hall-of-fame/|title=Football Hall of Fame}}</ref>
*In 2014, Podolak was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name="auto3"/>
*Podolak was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>

==See also==
* [[List of American Football League players]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.edpodolak.com/bio.html}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=2523332 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo=  |si= |pfr=PodoEd00 |dbf=PODOLED01}}

{{Iowa Hawkeyes starting quarterbacks}}
{{Chiefs1969DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl IV}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Podolak, Ed}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football announcers]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs players]]
[[Category:NFL announcers]]
[[Category:People from Atlantic, Iowa]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Iowa]]
[[Category:American Football League players]]