Mike Holovak dominated the gridiron for Boston College as a punishing All-American fullback before launching a successful second career as an NFL head coach and executive.
Football Bio
Our next legendary birthday was on September 19, 1919, and it belongs to Mike Holovak, a fullback from Boston College.
Fordham head coach Frank Leahy noticed Mike Holovak while observing a coach opposing Holovak’s high school squad and a man named Vince Lombardi. A month later, Leahy left Fordham to lead the Boston College football team.
Leahy didn’t forget Holovak’s strong play in that game, and he recruited him to attend BC and play for the Eagles.
As a sophomore, Mike contributed to the Eagles’ rushing attack and was a key piece on defense. Holovac scored twice in big situations for Boston College that season, once in a 19-18 victory over Georgetown and again in the Sugar Bowl, as the Eagles upset a strong Tennessee squad 19-13.
As a senior, he became a consensus All-American and finished second in the nation in total rushing yards.
Holovak’s performance in the 1942 Sugar Bowl was phenomenal, as he averaged 15 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns.
Football Fix: Beyond the Gridiron
While Mike Holovak is celebrated for his football prowess, his heroism extended far beyond the field. During World War II, Holovak enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as the skipper of a PT boat in the South Pacific. Under his command, his crew sank nine Japanese ships, and he eventually retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Back on the gridiron, his explosive speed set an unbelievable rushing record during the 1943 Orange Bowl against Alabama—averaging 15.8 yards on 10 carries—a record that remained untouched for more than five decades!
Mike served in the Navy during World War II, and after the war, he played in the NFL for the LA Rams and the Chicago Bears.
Holovak returned to Boston College in 1951 to become the Eagles’ head coach and stayed in that position through the 1959 season.
He moved into professional coaching a couple of years later, heading the New England Patriots from 1961 through 1968, and later serving as general manager of the Houston Oilers for a period of time.
The National Football Foundation selected him for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in the 1985 class.[National Football Foundation]
Mike Holovak cemented a lasting legacy in both college and professional football, transitioning seamlessly from a dominant ball carrier into a visionary franchise builder. His toughness on the field and sharp mind on the sideline make him an undisputed legend of the sport.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Consensus First-Team All-American (1942).
- Finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting (1942).
- Led Boston College to a victory in the 1941 Sugar Bowl.
- Set an Orange Bowl record with 15.8 yards per carry in 1943.
- Drafted fifth overall by the Cleveland Rams in the 1943 NFL Draft.
- Inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame (1970).
- Named AFL Coach of the Year (1964) as head coach of the Boston Patriots.
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