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| E.J. Holub | |
|---|---|
| Name | E.J. Holub |
| Birth date | March 21, 1938 |
| Birth place | San Antonio, Texas |
| Death date | October 26, 2019 |
| Death place | San Antonio, Texas |
| Alma mater | Texas Tech University |
| Occupation | American football player |
| Position | Center / Linebacker |
| Number | 55 |
| Teams | Houston Oilers (AFL), Kansas City Chiefs (AFL/NFL) |
| Honors | Pro Football Hall of Fame? |
E.J. Holub was an American American football player notable for his versatility as a two-way performer and long association with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise during the 1960s and 1970s. A standout at Texas Tech University, he played in the American Football League and the National Football League during a period of league competition and eventual merger involving the Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs. Holub's career intersected with prominent figures and events such as Lamar Hunt, the AFL–NFL merger, the Super Bowl IV era, and the rise of modern professional football.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Holub attended Jefferson High School (San Antonio), where he played under high school coaching traditions linked to the culture of Texas high school football alongside peers who would go on to attend institutions such as Texas A&M University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of Notre Dame. He enrolled at Texas Tech University and starred for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football program under coaches of the era influenced by strategies seen at University of Michigan and Notre Dame; his collegiate career placed him in the orbit of postseason bowls like the Bluebonnet Bowl and seasonal matchups versus programs such as Air Force Falcons football and Baylor Bears football. At Texas Tech he earned regional recognition that attracted scouts from franchises including the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Holub was drafted amid competition between the American Football League and the National Football League and chose to play for franchises shaped by owners like Lamar Hunt and executives who navigated the AFL–NFL merger. He began his professional career with the Dallas Texans (AFL)/Kansas City Chiefs organization, contributing to teams that featured teammates and coaches such as Len Dawson, Otis Taylor, Buck Buchanan, Mack Lee Hill, Hank Stram, and administrators echoing strategies of the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers. Holub endured serious injuries including multiple knee traumas and surgeries at medical centers influenced by innovations also used by athletes associated with Carl Eller and Alan Page. He returned from injury to play both offense and defense during seasons that culminated in championship contests against clubs like the Minnesota Vikings and participation in the postseason milieu that included the AFL Championship and early editions of the Super Bowl.
Holub's playing style combined elements of interior line play modeled after practitioners from programs such as Notre Dame Fighting Irish football and Oklahoma Sooners football, with linebacker instincts reminiscent of players from franchises like the Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers. He lined up at center on offense and at middle linebacker on defense, executing blocking schemes comparable to those developed in playbooks used by Paul Brown and defensive adjustments seen in teams coached by Tom Landry. His versatility was valued in an era when rosters and substitution rules were evolving, paralleling the multi-positional usage of athletes who transitioned between roles on teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets.
Holub received recognition from institutions such as Texas Tech University and regional halls that celebrate contributions to American football in Texas, drawing comparisons to inductees associated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. His number and achievements entered discussions alongside honorees from franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs and entities that preserve the history of the American Football League. Holub's perseverance through injury and adaptation to professional play informed retrospective analyses by sports historians who study the evolution of player roles at events including NFL Honors and retrospectives on the AFL era.
After retiring from professional play, Holub remained connected to the Kansas City Chiefs community and the sports culture of San Antonio, Texas, participating in alumni activities similar to engagements held by former players from the Houston Oilers and legacy organizations such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame outreach programs. He worked with local institutions and charitable efforts akin to initiatives by NFL alumni associated with causes supported by franchises like the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. Holub's later years included recognition at reunions and commemorations that involved figures from the AFL and NFL who had been part of the transformative decades leading to the modern era of professional football.
Category:American football centers Category:American football linebackers Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders football players Category:Kansas City Chiefs players Category:Sportspeople from San Antonio, Texas