Mike Hudock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mike Hudock | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 29, 1934 |
| Place of birth | Pittston, PA |
| Date of death | May 7, 2003 |
| Position(s) | Center |
| College | University of Miami |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1960-1962 1963-1965 1966 1967 |
AFL New York Titans AFL New York Jets AFL Miami Dolphins AFL Kansas City Chiefs |
Michael Edward "Mike" Hudock, Jr. also known as "Ozzie" (August 29, 1934 Pittston, PA-May 7, 2003) was a college and professional football center who helped make the University of Miami to become national football power for the first time.
An offensive lineman and linebacker, Hudock was a sophomore in 1954 when the Miami Hurricanes finished No. 9 in the nation, the first time they ended a season top 10. His senior year they were 8-1-1, No. 6 in all three wire polls and Hudock was honorable mention All-American.
Although his early professional years were plagued by knee injuries, Hudock became an integral part of another team's rise to prominence in 1960 when he joined the New York Titans for the first AFL season. He was still there when the Titans became the New York Jets in 1963 and in 1965 for Joe Namath's rookie year. Taken by Miami in the 1966 expansion draft, he retired in 1967 after being traded to Kansas City.
Hudock was twice named first-team center for the All-South team in college football.
He was the starting center in New York, with the Titans from 1960-62 and the Jets from 1963-65.
He played seven full seasons in the NFL, not counting the years he was injured in Green Bay and Pittsburgh and his partial season with Kansas City
In 1967, he was traded to Kansas City. He wound up unretiring and playing the end of the season for the Chiefs when their starting center was injured
