No. 52 | |||||||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 30, 1957||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Phoenixville (Phoenixville, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||
College: | Maryland | ||||||||
Undrafted: | 1979 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Neal T. Olkewicz (born January 30, 1957) is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 11-year career as a linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1979 to 1989. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.
Olkewicz was born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and attended Phoenixville High School, where he played football and baseball. [1]
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]
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.
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.
Thomas Raymond Flores is an American former professional football player in the American Football League (AFL) and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a quarterback for nine seasons in the AFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders. After his retirement as a coach, he was a radio announcer for more than twenty years.
Darrell Ray Green is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. Considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks and fastest players in NFL history, he played college football for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas and was drafted by the Redskins in the first round of the 1983 NFL draft. Green played in 295 games with Washington, winning Super Bowls XXII and XXVI, before retiring in 2003. He was named the 1996 NFL Man of the Year, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and included on the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Andre Darnell Reed is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills. He played college football for the Kutztown Golden Bears 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.
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. Riggins was known for his "bell cow" running style and productivity well into the later years of his career. In the 1983 season, at age 34, he rushed for a then-NFL record of 24 touchdowns, a record which stood for almost 20 seasons. Riggins again led the league in rushing touchdowns during the 1984 season 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 MVP of Super Bowl XVII where he scored one touchdown and rushed for 166 yards in a 27–17 win for the Redskins over the Miami Dolphins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.
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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).
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 an American business owner, activist, broadcaster and former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1973 to 1984.
Mark Eric May is an American former professional football player who was a guard for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. May played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers and earned unanimous 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.
Donald McNeal is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) 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 city’s historically Black university Morgan State. He was a member of its undefeated 1968 team, scoring its only touchdown in the Bears’ historic victory over Grambling at Yankee Stadium.
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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.
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