E. J. Holub
Encyclopedia
Emil Joe Holub is a former American football
center
and linebacker
in the American Football League
(AFL) and the National Football League
(NFL). Collegiately
, he played for Texas Technological College
(now Texas Tech University
).
in 1957 and went on to attend Texas Technological College. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders
, Holub was a two-time All-American center, in 1959 and 1960. He was the first player in Texas Tech football history to have his jersey number (55) retired. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor at Texas Tech. He was also inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame
in South Bend, Indiana
in 1986.
drafted Holub. He started for the Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs
as a linebacker
and as a center.
Even after nine knee surgeries, Holub was a leader, a "holler guy", and he was a team player, enduring pain to lead his team. He would spend hours in the training room, watching blood and liquid drain from his knee, then go out to the field and perform as though he was suffering from no physical problem.
He was an American Football League All-Star
in 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966 and was the only player to start two Super Bowl
s at two different positions. He started Super Bowl I
at linebacker, then started Super Bowl IV
at center and was a driving force in helping the Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings
23-7.
With Holub's knees wearing out, the Chiefs selected his eventual successor, Jack Rudnay
, in the 1970 NFL Draft
. Rudnay took over the starting center position during the 1970 season
, and Holub subsequently retired.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(AFL) and the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). Collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, he played for Texas Technological College
History of Texas Tech University
The history of Texas Tech University dates back to the early 1880s, but the university was not established until 1923.-Establishment:The call to open a college in West Texas began shortly after the arrival of settlers in the area in the 1880s. In 1917, the Texas legislature passed a bill creating a...
(now Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
).
College
E.J. Holub graduated from Lubbock High SchoolLubbock High School
Lubbock High School is a 5A high school serving grades nine to twelve in Lubbock, Texas . Part of the Lubbock Independent School District, the school is known for its academic program and for the fact that it has produced a number of talented musicians, vocalists, businessmen, and scientists over...
in 1957 and went on to attend Texas Technological College. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Holub was a two-time All-American center, in 1959 and 1960. He was the first player in Texas Tech football history to have his jersey number (55) retired. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Honor at Texas Tech. He was also inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
in 1986.
Pro Football
In 1961, the AFL's Dallas TexansHistory of the Kansas City Chiefs
The following is a detailed history of the Kansas City Chiefs, a professional American football franchise that began play in 1960 as the Dallas Texans...
drafted Holub. He started for the Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
as a linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and as a center.
Even after nine knee surgeries, Holub was a leader, a "holler guy", and he was a team player, enduring pain to lead his team. He would spend hours in the training room, watching blood and liquid drain from his knee, then go out to the field and perform as though he was suffering from no physical problem.
He was an American Football League All-Star
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
in 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966 and was the only player to start two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s at two different positions. He started Super Bowl I
Super Bowl I
The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
at linebacker, then started Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV
Super Bowl IV was the fourth AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, and the second one to officially bear the name "Super Bowl"...
at center and was a driving force in helping the Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
23-7.
With Holub's knees wearing out, the Chiefs selected his eventual successor, Jack Rudnay
Jack Rudnay
John Carl "Jack" Rudnay is a former professional American football center in the National Football League...
, in the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. Rudnay took over the starting center position during the 1970 season
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
, and Holub subsequently retired.