Tom Nowatzke
November 9, 2009
Hosted by Jeff Nixon
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Guest Information
Episode Description
Tom Nowatzke, the number one draft choice of the Detroit Lions in 1965, made it in the NFL after a stellar career at Indiana University. There he achieved All-American status as a senior, despite the fact that his Hoosiers finished the season with a 2-7 record. A farm boy from northern Indiana, Nowatzke could only dream about being a regular in the NFL. After playing four seasons for the Lions and suffering a neck injury in 1969, Tom hoped to resurrect his career. But he never thought about the possibility of playing for a Super Bowl winner. Near the end of Super Bowl V in Miami on January 17, 1971, on his second try from the two-yard line, Tom Nowatzke, the big fullback of the Baltimore Colts, plowed into the end zone and with the extra point, they tied the score against the Dallas Cowboys to 13-13. The Colt’s went on to win the game when Jim O’Brien kicked a 32 yard field goal. After the season, Tom received the Unsung Hero Award by his Colt teammates, and became a household name in Baltimore after their Super Bowl victory.
Jeff Nixon Sports Report
Archives available on VoiceAmerica Sports Channel
Do you want the TRUTH? Can you handle the TRUTH? It’s time to put on your thinking cap and get the answers to all your questions about the NFL. The Jeff Nixon Sports Report will provide analysis of the Buffalo Bill’s games with in depth discussions with current players, retired players and fans regarding what the Buffalo Bills need to do to get back to the Superbowl…and this time win it! Jeff will examine other NFL teams and games. The show will focus on current events that affect both active and retired players including the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL Disability and Pension Plans, active player conduct on and off the field, the use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs and other issues that affect active players, retired players and the NFL in general. The show will also highlight the positive things that both active and retired players are doing in their communities.
Jeff Nixon
Jeff Nixon graduated from the University of Richmond where he holds the career record for 23 interceptions at Richmond. He is a three-time All-America selection and was named First Team by five different organizations following his senior year. In 1989, Jeff was inducted into the University of Richmond Hall of Fame.
Jeff was a fourth round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 1979. He led the team with six interceptions his rookie season and was named to several all-rookie teams. In 1980 Jeff started the season in dramatic fashion by intercepting three passes against the Miami Dolphins which helped the Bills win the game and end the longest head-to-head team losing streak in NFL history. Jeff was Sports Illustrated's - Defensive Player of the Month in September of 1980. Jeff retired in 1985 and is now living in Buffalo, New York. He is married to recording artist Joyce Wilson-Nixon and together they have 5 children; Charles, Damien, Libran, Jena and Jeff. He is currently the Youth Service Director for the Buffalo Employment and Training Center where he provides jobs, career counseling, work readiness training and employment opportunities to low-income, underprivileged youth.
Jeff has been working on NFL retired player issues and moderates the blog "NFL Retired Players United". He also sits on the Board of Directors for two organizations that are also working on retired players issues: Fourth and Goal and the Retired Football Players Association.
