View source for Jay Novacek

{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Jay Novacek
| image       = Jay Novacek.JPG
| alt         = Novacek smiles
| caption     =
| number      = 85, 84
| position    = [[Tight end]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1962|10|24}}
| birth_place = [[Martin, South Dakota]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 4
| weight_lb   = 234
| high_school = [[Gothenburg High School|Gothenburg]] {{avoid wrap| ([[Gothenburg, Nebraska]])}}
| college     = [[Wyoming Cowboys football|Wyoming]] (1982–1984)
| draftyear   = 1985
| draftround  = 6
| draftpick   = 158
| pastteams   = * [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis]] / [[Phoenix Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1985|1989}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1990|1996}})
| highlights  = * 3× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXVII|XXVII]], [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]], [[Super Bowl XXX|XXX]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1992 All-Pro Team|1992]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[1991 All-Pro Team|1991]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1992 Pro Bowl|1991]]–[[1996 Pro Bowl|1995]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1984 College Football All-America Team|1984]])
* First-team All-[[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] (1984)
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 422
| statlabel2  = Receiving yards
| statvalue2  = 4,630
| statlabel3  = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 30
| pfr         = NovaJa00
| CollegeHOF  = 2219 
}}

'''Jay McKinley  Novacek''' (born October 24, 1962) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis]] / [[Phoenix Cardinals]] (1985–1989) and the [[Dallas Cowboys]] (1990–1995). He played [[college football]] for the [[Wyoming Cowboys football|Wyoming Cowboys]] and was selected by the Cardinals in the sixth round of the [[1985 NFL draft]]. Novacek was a five-time [[Pro Bowl]]er, who was selected to play each year from 1991 through 1995. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 2008.

==Early life==
Born in [[Martin, South Dakota]], Novacek attended [[Gothenburg High School]] in central [[Nebraska]],<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NovaJa00.htm | title = Jay Novacek Stats | website = [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] | access-date = August 10, 2019}}</ref> where he was a two-year starter at [[quarterback]] and a three-sport athlete.

In 1980, he set the state record in the [[pole vault]] at {{height|ft=15|in=1}} and also won the state titles in that event and [[hurdles]]. He was an All-state football and [[basketball]] player. His jersey is the only one retired in school history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jay Novacek – Gothenburg – Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame |url=https://nebhalloffame.org/jay-novacek-gothenburg/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Novacek was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-27 |title=Steve Dudley was high school teammate of Cowboys' Jay Novacek |url=https://www.dglobe.com/sports/steve-dudley-was-high-school-teammate-of-cowboys-jay-novacek |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=Worthington Globe |language=en}}</ref>

==College career==
Novacek accepted a scholarship from the [[University of Wyoming]] in [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]] and started his college football career as a [[split end]] with the [[Wyoming Cowboys football|Wyoming Cowboys]]. The next year, he was moved to [[tight end]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wyoming Great Jay Novacek To Be Inducted Into National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame on Dec. 9 |url=https://gowyo.com/news/2016/6/29/5774023be4b0bdd131ac5e24_131478147045117185 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=University of Wyoming Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

He had few opportunities to prove his true worth in head coach [[Al Kincaid]]'s run-oriented [[Wishbone formation|wishbone]] offense, where the team usually threw around 18 passes per game.

In 1984, Novacek posted 33 receptions for 745 yards, 4 [[touchdown]]s and set an [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] single-season record for average per reception (22.6 yards) by a tight end. He was selected to the honorable-mention [[All-America]]n football team and to the [[Western Athletic Conference]] (WAC) first-team.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19841205&id=qdUvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CKYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5646,5594293&hl=en | title=Honorable mention Offense | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520040759/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19841205&id=qdUvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CKYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5646,5594293&hl=en | archive-date=May 20, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> He finished his college career with 83 career receptions for 1,536 yards and 10 [[touchdown]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gowyo.com/genrel/wyo-hof.html | title=UW Athletics Hall of Fame | access-date=January 8, 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905102953/http://www.gowyo.com/genrel/wyo-hof.html | archive-date=September 5, 2015 }}</ref>

Novacek also competed in [[track and field]] for the [[Wyoming Cowboys|Cowboys]]. He won the WAC  [[decathlon]] championship and placed fourth in the NCAA championships, earning [[All-America]]n honors in track. He set the school record for [[decathlon]] points (7,615) and in the [[pole vault]] jump ({{height|ft=16|in=4}}).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uwyo.edu/profiles/notable-alumni/novacek.html | title=University of Wyoming: Notable Alumni | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228080351/https://www.uwyo.edu/profiles/notable-alumni/novacek.html | archive-date=December 28, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> He competed in the [[1984 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|1984 Olympic trials]] as a decathlete.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gowyo.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120908aab.html | title=Wyoming Great Jay Novacek To Be Inducted Into National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306230426/http://www.gowyo.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120908aab.html | archive-date=March 6, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2008, he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jay Novacek (2008) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_search.aspx?hof=2219 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}</ref> In 1993, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jay Novacek - University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame |url=https://wyohof.com/jay-novacek/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2014, he was inducted into the [[Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=TCHOF |date=2013-11-20 |title=Jay Novacek - 2014 |url=https://www.tchof.com/post/jay-novacek |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=TX Cowboy HOF |language=en}}</ref>

==Professional career==
===St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals===
Novacek was selected in the sixth round (158th overall) of the [[1985 NFL draft]] by the [[History of the St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1985 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was also selected by the [[Houston Gamblers]] in the fifth round (69th overall) of the [[1985 USFL Draft]]. As a rookie, he was a [[wide receiver]] and played mainly on [[special teams]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19850801&id=HbUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UNcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3676,3412418&hl=en | title=Big Red rookie receiver turning some heads | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503025243/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19850801&id=HbUfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UNcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3676,3412418&hl=en | archive-date=May 3, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[1986 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1986]], he was moved to tight end, but was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on August 19.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19860820&id=hbgxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yeUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5604,5584083&hl=en | title=Transactions | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506052303/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19860820&id=hbgxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yeUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5604,5584083&hl=en | archive-date=May 6, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was activated on October 17,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19861018&id=c9VKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2638,2557498&hl=en | title=Transactions | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430053540/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1899&dat=19861018&id=c9VKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mfMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2638,2557498&hl=en | archive-date=April 30, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> but was placed again on the [[injured reserve list]] on December 10.

In [[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|1987]], he began the season as the starter at tight end, until suffering a broken elbow against the [[1987 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] on October 25. After rookie [[Rob Awalt]] had a break-out game against the [[1987 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19871107&id=KWZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hQYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4347,2597982&hl=en | title=Tight ends help revive Cardinals | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503054917/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19871107&id=KWZIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hQYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4347,2597982&hl=en | archive-date=May 3, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> Novacek was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] on November 2.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19871104&id=1X1FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SccMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6161,615174&hl=en | title=Novacek is placed on injured reserve list | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505233306/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19871104&id=1X1FAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SccMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6161,615174&hl=en | archive-date=May 5, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> He finished the season with 20 receptions for 254 yards and 3 [[touchdown]]s, producing just 2 receptions in his first two seasons and only 22 after three years.

In [[1988 Phoenix Cardinals season|1988]], the Cardinals franchise moved to Phoenix and even though Awalt remained the starter at [[tight end]], Novacek still ranked third on the team with 569 receiving yards and 4 receiving [[touchdown]]s. The next year with [[Gary Hogeboom]] instead of [[Neil Lomax]] as the team's starting [[quarterback]], his production fell to 23 receptions for 225 yards and one [[touchdown]].

In [[1990 Phoenix Cardinals season|1990]], [[Joe Bugel]] was hired as the new [[head coach]], who looked for the [[tight end]] position to be either a blocker or perform [[H-back]] type functions. Novacek was not seen as a good fit for the new system and was left unprotected—eligible to sign with any team under [[Plan B free agency]].

===Dallas Cowboys===
In [[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|1990]], the [[Dallas Cowboys]] signed Novacek as a [[Plan B free agency|Plan B free agent]], arguably the best signing in the history of this program.<ref name="NYTimes" /> He was named the starter at tight end, even though the Cowboys also acquired Awalt to compete for the position. He would go on to have a break-out season, becoming one of the league's top receiving tight ends, while registering 59 receptions for 657 yards and 4 [[touchdown]]s.

He was a key contributor for the offense in the early 1990s, especially on third downs where he could find the soft spot in the defense. Beginning in [[1991 NFL season|1991]], he played in five straight [[Pro Bowl]]s, while helping the Cowboys make the playoffs each year and winning the [[Super Bowl]] three times in four seasons. Although blocking was not his strength, he did a solid job locking up opponents.

In [[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|1992]], he was named an [[All-Pro]] after leading all tight ends with 68 receptions for 630 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.

In [[1995 Dallas Cowboys season|1995]], he posted his second-highest single-season total for receptions (62) and touchdowns (5), to go along with a career-high in receiving yards (705). He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a partial tear of his medial meniscus before the last game of the season,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-12-24/sports/25668670_1_contract-cowboys-quarterback-troy-aikman-jay-novacek | title=Knee Surgery Shelves The Cowboys' Novacek | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095007/http://articles.philly.com/1995-12-24/sports/25668670_1_contract-cowboys-quarterback-troy-aikman-jay-novacek | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> but still helped beat the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in [[Super Bowl XXX]].

In [[1996 Dallas Cowboys season|1996]], although he missed the regular season because of a degenerative disc in his back, the Cowboys decided not to put him on injured reserve, in the hope he could be ready for the playoffs. On January 3, [[1997 NFL season|1997]], he was placed on the [[injured reserve list]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19970104&id=rpAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=560FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4468,457131&hl=en | title=Cowboys' Novacek out for season | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312102516/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19970104&id=rpAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=560FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4468,457131&hl=en | archive-date=March 12, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> On July 15, he officially retired from the [[NFL]] after his chronic lower-back problems cut short his career.<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=1997-07-16|title=Haley and Novacek Retire|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/16/sports/haley-and-novacek-retire.html|access-date=2021-11-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In his 11 seasons, Novacek recorded 422 receptions for 4,630 yards (ninth in team history) and 30 [[touchdown]]s, with most of his production coming from [[1990 NFL season|1990]] to [[1995 NFL season|1995]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19970716&id=iFMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5595,2385889&hl=en | title=Cowboys' Haley, Novacek ride into the sunset | access-date=January 8, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429091936/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19970716&id=iFMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5595,2385889&hl=en | archive-date=April 29, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> He also came up big in the post-season, ranking third in franchise playoff history in receptions (62), receiving yards (645) and touchdown receptions (6).

== NFL career statistics ==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular Season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Team
! colspan="2" |Games
! colspan="5" |Receiving
! colspan="2" |Fumbles
|-
!GP
!GS
!Rec
!Yds
!Avg
!Lng
!TD
!Fum
!Lost
|-
![[1985 NFL season|1985]]
![[1985 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
|'''16'''
|0
|1
|4
|4.0
|4
|0
|0
|0
|-
![[1986 NFL season|1986]]
![[1986 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
|8
|0
|1
|2
|2.0
|2
|0
|0
|0
|-
![[1987 NFL season|1987]]
![[1987 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|STL]]
|7
|4
|20
|254
|12.7
|25
|3
|1
|1
|-
![[1988 NFL season|1988]]
![[1988 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
|'''16'''
|1
|38
|569
|'''15.0'''
|42
|4
|0
|0
|-
![[1989 NFL season|1989]]
![[1989 Phoenix Cardinals season|PHO]]
|'''16'''
|1
|23
|225
|9.8
|30
|1
|0
|0
|-
![[1990 NFL season|1990]]
![[1990 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''16'''
|15
|59
|657
|11.1
|41
|4
|1
|0
|-
![[1991 NFL season|1991]]
![[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''16'''
|12
|59
|664
|11.3
|'''49'''
|4
|'''3'''
|'''2'''
|-
![[1992 NFL season|1992]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''16'''
|'''16'''
|'''68'''
|630
|9.3
|34
|'''6'''
|0
|0
|-
![[1993 NFL season|1993]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1993 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''16'''
|'''16'''
|44
|445
|10.1
|30
|1
|'''3'''
|1
|-
![[1994 NFL season|1994]]
![[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''16'''
|14
|47
|475
|10.1
|27
|2
|0
|0
|-
![[1995 NFL season|1995]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1995 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|15
|15
|62
|'''705'''
|11.4
|33
|5
|0
|0
|-
! colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NovaJa00.htm Career]
!158
!94
!422
!4,630
!11.0
!49
!30
!8
!4
|}

=== Postseason ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Team
! colspan="2" |Games
! colspan="5" |Receiving
! colspan="2" |Fumbles
|-
!GP
!GS
!Rec
!Yds
!Avg
!Lng
!TD
!Fum
!Lost
|-
![[1991–92 NFL playoffs|1991]]
![[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|2
|2
|5
|58
|'''11.6'''
|25
|1
|0
|0
|-
![[1992–93 NFL playoffs|1992]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1992 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''3'''
|'''3'''
|13
|136
|10.5
|23
|'''2'''
|0
|0
|-
![[1993–94 NFL playoffs|1993]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1993 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''3'''
|'''3'''
|15
|142
|9.5
|20
|'''2'''
|0
|0
|-
![[1994–95 NFL playoffs|1994]]
![[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|2
|2
|'''16'''
|'''176'''
|11.0
|22
|0
|0
|0
|-
![[1995–96 NFL playoffs|1995]]
! style="background:#afe6ba;"|[[1995 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
|'''3'''
|'''3'''
|13
|133
|10.2
|'''25'''
|1
|0
|0
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NovaJa00.htm Career]
!158
!94
!62
!645
!10.4
!25
!6
!0
!0
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2009/06/17/cowboys-top-50-list-no-28-jay-novacek Dallas Cowboys Top 50 players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301084004/http://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2009/06/17/cowboys-top-50-list-no-28-jay-novacek |date=March 1, 2016 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080804025921/http://wyomingathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/050108aaa.html Wyoming Athletics] College Football Hall of Fame story
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051220114003/http://wyomingathletics.collegesports.com/genrel/wyo-hof.html University of Wyoming] Athletics Hall of Fame - inducted 1993
* [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-30-sp-1775-story.html Tight End Jay Novacek was a Cowboy long before he went to Wyoming or Dallas]

{{1984 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{St. Louis Cardinals 1985 draft navbox}}
{{Super Bowl XXVII}}
{{Super Bowl XXVIII}}
{{Super Bowl XXX}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Novacek, Jay}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:American people of Czech descent]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Bennett County, South Dakota]]
[[Category:People from Lincoln County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Phoenix Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Nebraska]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players]]
[[Category:Wyoming Cowboys football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from South Dakota]]