John Holecek

John Francis Holecek (born May 7, 1972) is a former professional American football player and nationally recognized football coach.

He played linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills, the San Diego Chargers, and the Atlanta Falcons.

He went to college at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and played with perhaps the best college linebacker corps ever assembled.

Despite knee injuries lowering high draft expectations and ending Butkus Award speculation, Holecek finished his Illini career with over 430 tackles.

After graduation from Marian Catholic High School (Illinois), John played for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team from 1990 to 1994.

Holecek was the Illini's co-Defensive Player of the Year in his red-shirt freshman season.

Holecek was part of the linebacker foursome that gave Illinois the nickname "Linebacker U" in the 1990s.

The Foursome also featured All-American and first-round, second and third overall draft picks, Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy, as well as, Butkus award winner Dana Howard.

Illinois led the nation in total defense for most of Holecek's senior season.

Illinois participated in college bowl games each of Holecek's seasons.

Holecek is fifth on the Illinois career tackles list with 436 (above another Chicago area Illinois linebacker great Dick Butkus) and was twice named honorable mention All-America.

Holecek graduated as a finance major (on the Dean's list) with some credits towards his master's degree.

Holecek's arm-wrestling match with his childhood hero, legendary Walter Payton, was stated to be one of his greatest college football-related moments.

Lou Tepper, former Illinois coach and author of "Complete Linebacking" described John's aggressive linebacker playing style as "a natural presser" and called John "a fiery leader and competitor".

Tepper praised Holecek in a college pre-season magazine, stating "He will bite, chew, and claw his way to make the play. He has incredible toughness and intelligence, and that is rare combination."

Holecek made the All-Big in 1993 and 1994 teams, and was also a team captain.

Holecek suffered multiple ACL injuries during his Illinois career, dampening prior Butkus Award consideration.

"I remember Holecek was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week" (November 1993 comeback win vs Minnesota) Tepper said of the least heralded of his all-star linebacker corps.

"We had two future Butkus Award winners (Howard and Hardy) and Simeon Rice, who was just as good or better than two others I coached — Khalil Mack and Bruce Smith. And yet, you could make an argument that if you could just pick one guy to start your defensive with, it would be Holecek, just because of the effect he had on others."

Holecek was drafted by the Bills in 1995, played for the Chargers in 2001, and for the Falcons in 2002.

Holecek was drafted in 1995 by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round if the NFL draft (144th pick) of the 1995 NFL Draft.

Holecek was drafted by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

Holecek also played for NFL coach Wade Phillips.

Holecek had hoped to be drafted by his hometown Chicago Bears, and had discussions with the new head coach Dave Wannstedt.

The Bears instead drafted Sean Harris from Arizona, who had a brief NFL tenure.

Holecek reported to the perennial Super Bowl bound Bills rookie camp in April 1995.

Holecek played in the NFL for 8 seasons and was credited for over 560 career tackles; awarded NFL's "Player of the Week" honors in 1999.

Holecek had his NFL jersey number 52 retired by his alma mater in 2000.

Other retired Marian jerseys include Mike Prior and high school and one-season NFL teammate Rodney Harrison (San Diego Chargers).

Coach Mattio reflected on Holecek in a 2001 Times newspaper interview, "Most people don't know he was a good catcher and could have been a great wrestler," Mattio said.

"Even then, I saw how he never quit and everything had to be perfect. He was a tough kid, I compare him to street kid because of his toughness and being hard-nosed on the field. He played hard and the thing about John, he could run for a big guy".

Holecek finished his high school career with 243 tackles, 13 sacks, two fumble recoveries, three interceptions, two punts blocked, 16 receptions and 2 TD passes.

Holecek was All-State and named the “Defensive Player of the Year” his senior year by a metro newspaper.

He returned to the Chicago area and was the head football coach for 17 years at Loyola Academy - who won the 2015, 2018, and 2022 Class 8A Illinois Football State Championships.

Holecek was a finalist for the 2015 National Coach of the Year award.

His often nationally-ranked Loyola teams had played internationally and hosted a ESPN High School Kickoff game in 2022.

Coach Holecek announced his Loyola Academy retirement in December 2022 (with a cumulative 185-36 record), planning to focus "on the next chapter of his career”.

Holecek was a three-sport athlete at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, excelling in wrestling, baseball, and football.

Holecek was selected to a Chicago all-star baseball team that toured Europe his junior summer, but he decided to play football after receiving multiple Big Ten and division one scholarship offers.

Holecek played both tight end and middle linebacker for Marian coach Dave Mattio.