Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

As an NFL guy and not too knowledgeable on the AFL, I was unfamiliar with E.J. Holub, but now I am shocked that I didn't know of him. He started two Super Bowls at two different positions, the only one to ever do that. 7 times on either first or second-team All-AFL, five-time All-Star, three-time AFL champion... and while playing linebacker and center! I know the AFL is very underrepresented in the PFHOF, but surely he deserves consideration for the HOVG. I'll nominate him when the next ballot comes around.

Crazy Packers Fan wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 5:38 pm As an NFL guy and not too knowledgeable on the AFL, I was unfamiliar with E.J. Holub, but now I am shocked that I didn't know of him. He started two Super Bowls at two different positions, the only one to ever do that. 7 times on either first or second-team All-AFL, five-time All-Star, three-time AFL champion... and while playing linebacker and center! I know the AFL is very underrepresented in the PFHOF, but surely he deserves consideration for the HOVG. I'll nominate him when the next ballot comes around.

More on E.J.:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._J._Holub#Early_years
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... luE.00.htm

I would bet there are more players than E.J. who started Super Bowls at more than one position. Ronnie Lott comes to mind (CB 81&84; S 88&89).
However, I don't know if there was anyone who started on offense on one occasion and defense on another... anyone?

Holub was an outstanding linebacker on their first championship team in Dallas. Due to knee injuries and Stram wanting his toughness on offense, he switched over to center but competed against other outstanding centers for accolades. One of the toughest players in professional history undergoing at least 17 operations, when sports medicine was considered primitive.

JuggernautJ wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:34 pm I would bet there are more players than E.J. who started Super Bowls at more than one position. Ronnie Lott comes to mind (CB 81&84; S 88&89).
However, I don't know if there was anyone who started on offense on one occasion and defense on another... anyone?

Yeah, what I meant was starting on offense and on defense. Trying to rack my brain if anyone besides Lott did it... I don't think Deion was a starter in Super Bowl XXX, or he'd fit the bill.

JuggernautJ wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:34 pm I would bet there are more players than E.J. who started Super Bowls at more than one position. Ronnie Lott comes to mind (CB 81&84; S 88&89).
However, I don't know if there was anyone who started on offense on one occasion and defense on another... anyone?

Here is some hasty research:

Mike Curtis - LLB, MLB
Dave Osborn - HB. FB
Charlie Waters - FS, SS
Larry Brown - TE, RT
Ted Hendricks - LLB, RLB
JT Thomas - CB, FS
Bob Brudzinski - LLB, RLB

Mark May RG, RT
Jacoby LT, RT

Charles Haley, OLB, DE
Ed White, LG, RG
Richar Seymour, DT, DE

with how guys play these days --- it gets a little fuzzy

Chris Jones started at both LDT and RDT but gamebooks don't mention it
it's based on being a 3-tech.

Aaron Donald started bot hat RDT but that was just a 50-50 change ... he'd play
to the side of the call.

I have never checked but Cowboys OLBers would switch sides based on strength
so possible they started on opposite sides but it;s the same position.

But with Ted Hendricks, his teams did go left- and right- and also
was in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes ... both

interesting topic ...

Kevin Williams started at receiver for Dallas against Pitts in the 95/96 SB but Primetime played receiver as well as DB. His 47 yard reception was huge as the Cowboys should have went up 17-0 but Irvin was called for OPI, as they went up 13-0 and had to hold the Steelers off. Sanders played more receiver with the team but was similar to Devin Hester, more a decoy than factor.