Novoselsky, Brent

Brent Howard Novoselsky

Novoselsky was a solid tight end from the Ivy League. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Brent played in 98 games in the NFL and registered over 100 special teams tackles before retiring in 1994 due to a neck injury.
In 2002, Novoselsky was a recipient of the Label A. Katz Award from B'nai B'rith International; the award honors members under the age of 40 who display distinguished leadership skills. The distinction is named in honor of Label Katz, the youngest international president in the history of B�nai B�rith.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. January 8, 1966

Career Highlights:
Novoselsky was an outstanding tight end for Penn in the mid-1980s before playing in the NFL. In 1986, he was named All-Ivy League first team as he led the Quakers in receiving with 18 catches for 337 yards and six touchdowns. Against Navy, Brent caught three touchdown passes -- the last time in Penn history this feat has been achieved. Penn won the Ivy League title that year with a perfect 7-0-0 record (10-0-0 overall).
In 1987, Brent repeated as team leader in receiving with 15 catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns. He was named second team All-Ivy League and Penn finished in sixth place with a 3-4-0 record (4-6-0 overall).
After graduating in 1988, Novoselsky joined the Chicago Bears for the 1988 season; he played in eight games that year but had no receptions. In 1989, he moved to the Minnesota Vikings and from 1989-1993, Brent played in 78 out of a possible 80 regular season games for the Vikings. One of his teammates on the Vikings from 1990-1993 was offensive lineman Adam Schreiber. Novoselsky is a member of the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Origin:
Skokie, Illinois

Career Dates:
Brent played tight end at the University of Pennsylvania from 1985-1987. He then played tight end in the NFL for the Chicago Bears in 1988, and with the Minnesota Vikings from 1989-1994.

Physical description:
6'2", 232 pounds

Career Statistics:
In the NFL:
Games: 98
Receptions: 14
Receiving yards: 108
Receiving average: 7.7
Receiving touchdowns: 2
Kick returns: 2
Kick return yards: 10
Kick return average: 5.0

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References:
Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League, edited by Bob Carroll, Michael Gershman, David Neft, and John Thorn (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1999)