Rare Position Switch to Interior Offensive Line

[Halas Hall]

I am trying to think of players who successfully moved to the three interior offensive line positions (center or guard) from a position other than the defensive or offensive lines (maybe since World War II).

The only two I can come up with are (linebacker to center) E. J. Holub on the Kansas City Chiefs and (end to guard) Bob Mischak on the New York Giants. Are there any others?

Thank you.
Nick

[Gary Najman]

MIke Wilson of the 1969 and 1970 Bengals (not the same Mike Wilson who was the right tackle for the Bengals and Seahawks in th 1980s) started his pro career as a RB, then was moved to guard and tackle. He is also the only player who have played in the AFL, NFL, WFL, CFL and USFL.

[Gary Najman]

Bob Swift played in the CFL from 1964 to 1977. Fom 1964 to 1967 he was a running back for British Columbia and Toronto, scoring 20 touchdowns. Then in 1968 he was moved to center. In 1971 he went to Winnipeg, where he finished his career and was a three time All-CFL as center. He later was an OL coach for various CFL teams.

[conace21]

Walt Cudzik started the 1954 season opener at linebacker for Washington. They released him two days later. He went to the Giants training camp the following year, but failed to make the team. His playing career appeared to be over, until the AFL was formed. Cudzik started at center for five years for Boston and Buffalo.

Cudzik was out of football for 5 years and 11 games. I'd imagine that since World War II, this is one of the longer gaps between NFL/AFL stints where the player didn't play football at all. (Doug Flutie was out of the NFL for eight years, but he was playing in the CFL.)