Neal Olkewicz

Last updated
Neal Olkewicz
No. 52
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1957-01-30) January 30, 1957 (age 66)
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: Phoenixville (PA)
College: Maryland
Undrafted: 1979
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:150
Games started:137
Sacks:12.0
Interceptions:6
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Neal T. "Olky" Olkewicz (born January 30, 1957) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) who played his entire 11-year career with the Washington Redskins from 1979 to 1989.

Contents

Early life

Olkewicz was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and attended Phoenixville High School, where he played football and baseball. [1]

College career

Olkewicz played college football at the University of Maryland from 1975 to 1978. While at Maryland, Olkewicz played in four bowl games - the Gator Bowl, Cotton Bowl, the Hall of Fame Classic, and the Sun Bowl. In 1978, he led the Terrapins' defense by making 188 tackles, a school record that still remains intact. [2]

Professional career

Olkewicz signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent in 1979. He won two Super Bowl Championships with victories over the Miami Dolphins (1982) and the Denver Broncos (1987). He was named the Redskins’ Defensive MVP in 1988. Olkewicz is one of only five players in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl on his birthday (Super Bowl XVII). [1] He retired in 1989 following the Redskins victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the season finale. He played 150 games in his career and finished with six interceptions for 76 yards, one touchdown and 12 sacks.

After football

Since retirement, Olkewicz has owned a vending business in Rockville, Maryland called Olkewicz Vending serving the Washington metropolitan area. He was inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 [1] and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. [3] He is currently working as an aide at Pottsgrove High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

Related Research Articles

Thomas Raymond Flores is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a quarterback for nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders. After his retirement as a coach, he was a radio announcer for more than twenty years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny Jurgensen</span> American football player (born 1934)

Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. Jurgensen was also a longtime color commentary for Washington's radio broadcast crew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Williams (quarterback)</span> American football player, coach, and executive (born 1955)

Douglas Lee Williams is an American football executive and former quarterback and coach. Williams is best known for his performance with the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos, making him the first black quarterback to both start and win a Super Bowl. He was named Super Bowl MVP after breaking two Super Bowl passing records: 340 yards total, including four touchdowns in a single quarter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Reed</span> American football player (born 1964)

Andre Darnell Reed is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Kutztown and was selected by the Bills in the fourth round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 86th overall selection. Following 15 seasons with the Bills, where he earned Pro Bowl honors seven times, Reed spent his final season as a member of the Washington Redskins in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Riggins</span> American football player (born 1949)

Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "Riggo" and "Diesel", is an American former professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks. He was known for his powerful running style and productivity well into the latter years of his career: in 1983 at age 34, he rushed for an NFL single-season record 24 touchdowns and again led the league in rushing touchdowns the following year at age 35. Although he earned only one Pro Bowl appearance in his career, Riggins had his greatest success in the postseason and was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XVII where he scored one touchdown and rushed for 166 yards in a 27–17 win for the Washington Redskins over the Miami Dolphins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Robert Andrew Long is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) who played in the 1960s and 1970s and earned two Super Bowl rings. He attended suburban Pittsburgh's Washington Township High School, and Wichita State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charley Taylor</span> American football player and coach (1941–2022)

Charles Robert Taylor was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver for 13 seasons with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, he was selected by Washington in the first round of the 1964 NFL Draft. With Taylor, the Redskins made the playoffs five times and reached the Super Bowl once (VII), after the 1972 season. A six-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowl selection, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Clark (American football)</span> American football player (born 1962)

Gary C. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1985–92), Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1993–94), and Miami Dolphins (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Grimm</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Russell Scott Grimm is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He has also served as an assistant coach for the Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans. As a professional, Grimm had multiple selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Grimm played 11 seasons for the Redskins and was a first-team selection to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.

David Roy Butz was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Redskins in a 16-year career from 1973 to 1988. During his time with Washington, as the team's defensive "anchor", he helped the Redskins reach the Super Bowl thrice, winning twice. He was named as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins in franchise history and a member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. Before turning professional, he played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Richard Blair Modzelewski was an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and the Cleveland Browns. He also served as interim head coach of the Browns in the final game of the 1977 season. Modzelewski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

George Lawrence Starke is a former American football offensive tackle who played for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League (NFL) from 1972-84.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark May</span> American football player and broadcaster (born 1959)

Mark Eric May is a former American college and professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. May played college football for the University of Pittsburgh and earned All-American honors. He was selected in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Arizona Cardinals.

Joe Dan Washington Jr is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.

Donald McNeal is a former American professional football player who played cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins in the 1980s.

Raymond Tucker Chester is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). After graduating from Douglass High School in Baltimore, Maryland, Chester played college football at the historically Black university Morgan State. He was a member of the Morgan State Bears’ 1968 undefeated team, scoring the Bears’ only touchdown in their historic victory over Grambling at Yankee Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marv Fleming</span> American football player (born 1942)

Marvin Lawrence Fleming is a former professional American football player, a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, seven with the Green Bay Packers and five with the Miami Dolphins. He was a member of five NFL championship teams.

LaVern Earl "Torgy" Torgeson was an American football player and coach. He played college football for Washington State from 1948 through 1950. Torgeson played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, principally as a linebacker, for the Detroit Lions from 1951 to 1954 and for the Washington Redskins from 1955 to 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Krause</span> American football player (born 1942)

Paul James Krause is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). Gifted with a great frame, speed and range, Krause established himself as a defensive force against opposing wide receivers. He led the league with 12 interceptions as a rookie before going on to set the NFL career interceptions record with 81 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Krause was selected eight times to the Pro Bowl during his 16 seasons in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Temerario</span> American football player (1906–2001)

Carmel Arthur "Tim" Temerario was a high school, college and professional American football coach and executive. He was an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins, and served as the Redskins' director of player personnel between 1965 and 1978.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Neal Olkewicz • Football • Phoenixville". Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. 2012. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  2. "Redskins great a Phantom for life". The Phoenix. November 24, 2005. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
  3. "Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame announces 2015 class". The Times Herald. June 17, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-02.