Nick Novak

At 42 years old, Nick Novak has this physical status:

Nicholas Ryan Novak (born August 21, 1981) is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL.

He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

He played college football at Maryland. Novak has played for the Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, and Houston Texans of the NFL, as well as the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe, the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League (UFL), and the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).

Early years

Novak was born and grew up in San Diego, California. After moving to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1994, Novak attended Albemarle High School where he was a letterman in football, soccer, and tennis. In football, he was a three-year varsity letterman, twice garnering All-District and All-Daily Progress honors, and winning All-State honors following his sophomore and senior seasons. Novak was also an All-District central defender on Albemarle's soccer team. On May 4, 2018 he was inducted into the Albemarle High School Hall of Fame.

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College career

Novak attended the University of Maryland. The then-redshirt freshman established himself during a nationally televised game against Georgia Tech in 2001, winning his nickname, "The Kick" after successfully finishing a 46-yard field goal to force the game into overtime. Novak won the game for a resurgent Terrapin team in the second stanza on a 26-yard field goal. Novak will continue to develop as one of the country's most reliable and clutch kickers; his legs were a key component in his victories over North Carolina State in 2002 and 2003. He was often an all-conference specialist and a mainstay on the Lou Groza watchlist, according to various sources. During his first game of his senior season, he became the ACC's all-time leading scorer, kicking a field goal that allowed him to tie Scott Bentley's career highs of 324 points. Novak retired from college with 393 points, the best in the league and fifth-best all-time amongst kickers in the NCAA at the time of his graduation.

The Jim Tatum Award was given to him annually by the ACC, to the top senior student-athlete among the league's football players. He is one of only three Maryland players to win the award since its inception in 1979. "I don't think there could have been a more deserving recipient for the Tatum Award than Nick Novak," Maryland Coach Ralph Freidgen said. Everything he does in his life is directed at the goal of perfection. It's been a pleasure to see the effort put forth both on the track and in the classroom, and he's been a shining example of the type of individual and scholar we're looking for at the University of Maryland.

Novak served on the University of Maryland for two years as a member of the All-ACC Academic Football Team, a three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll, and was a member of the ACC Honor Roll. He also earned Maryland's Dean's List on three occasions. He was a three-time CoSida Academic All-District selector and was named the 2004 LeFrak Scholar, an award given to a Maryland football player, basketball player, and track star who "exhibits extraordinary athletic ability, leadership, and athletic achievement."

Novak was also a member of Phi Delta Theta's Maryland Alpha Chapter at The University of Maryland in College Park.

Novak was selected to be honored in a special edition poster honoring the top 30 players and coaches who made a lasting impression on Maryland football history, "honoring and respecting the players and coaches who made a major contribution to the Maryland Football Program," says the player and coaches who made a huge contribution to the Maryland Football Program, both on and off the track over the past 50 years."

Professional career

Novak, an undrafted free agent, joined the Washington Redskins in September 2005 and played in five games, most notably winning a game-winning extra point in a season-opening Monday night game in Dallas and coming up with a game-saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff. He also kicked a game-winning field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks, which kept the Redskins undefeated and atop the NFC East table. He was released shortly after Hall returned to form after being signed in for a limited purpose. Since Neil Rackers failed to complete the 2005 season, he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals almost immediately for kickoff duties, although the Arizona Cardinals' Timing began. Novak played in five games for the Cardinals in 2005 and was 3 for 3 on field goal attempts.

He rejoined the Washington Redskins on October 10, 2006, after spending the 2006 preseason with the Cardinals, and replaced injured kicker John Hall. After Novak missed a 49-yard field goal with 35 seconds remaining, Redskin safety Troy Vincent blocked a Dallas Cowboys field goal; Sean Taylor picked the ball up and ran it all the way to the Dallas 45-yard line on November 5, 2009. Then, a facemask penalty was called, escalating the ball to the Cowboy 30 yards, giving the Redskins one more game with no clock on the clock. Novak then defeated Dallas 22–19 after a 47-yard field goal. Redskins.com announced that it was now ranked as the fourth best moment in FedExField history. The Redskins sacked Novak in favour of Shaun Suisham on December 4, the Redskins.

He was signed by the Chicago Bears and drafted to NFL Europa, where he was the placekicker for the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europa's last season. He had a fruitful campaign in Europe, with a game-winner for the third place Centurions. Novak was suspended after an impressive preseason with the Bears due to Robbie Gould's All-Pro kicker.

During the 2007 season, Novak auditioned for a variety of clubs, including the San Diego Chargers, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Kansas City Chiefs. On February 18, 2008, the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Novak.

In the Chiefs' 33-19 win over the Denver Broncos on September 28, 2008, Novak kicked four field goals. Novak was suspended after missing two field goals in the previous game on October 21, 2008.

Novak signed with the reigning AFC West Champion San Diego Chargers on April 29, 2010 to put in depth behind Nate Kaeding. The Chargers cut Kaeding in the final round of preseason cuts after matching him but ultimately losing out to the incumbent.

Novak has signed the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League to the 2010 season. Novak set the UFL record for the longest field goal with a 54-yarder in his Las Vegas debut against the Las Vegas Locomotives. He also made a 23-yard field goal and three-point after touchdown kicks in that game. He was named the week's Best Player of the Week for his efforts. In a close Tusker victory over Hartford in Week 4, Novak was named UFL Special Teams Player of the Week for the second week. Novak's four field goals, as well as his 15 overall points, were a single-game United Football League record. Novak led the league in points with 69 points, while Terry was 15-18 on field goals, and had the highest scoring record in UFL history during the regular season. Novak's final field goal total to 17/21 was up to 77 points after two field goals and two extra points in the UFL Championship. Novak was named the 2010 UFL Special Teams MVP for the 2010 season on November 24.

Notably, the San Diego Chargers wanted to bring Novak to replace an injured Nate Kaeding, who was in mid-October 2010. In a tryout for the position at Charger Park, Novak defeated three other kickers. However, games remained in the UFL season, and Novak remained under lockout with the Tuskers. The Chargers were able to pay the $150,000 release fee in the United States, but the team turned down the offer in order to hold Novak through the season.

Novak signed with the New York Jets on February 9, 2011 to face incumbent Nick Folk. In a August 2011 feature entitled "Journeyman Nick Novak Gives Incumbent Nick Folk a Chance to Start in Jets Camp," the New York Daily News chronicled his quest to make the Jets' roster. After the last pre-season game on August 30, the Jets waived him.

Novak was re-signed by the San Diego Chargers on September 13, 2011, after Nate Kaeding sustained an ACL tear to his left knee during the first kickoff against Minnesota. Novak made 27 of 34 field goals and set team records for field goals of 40 yards (12) and 50 yards (4) or longer during the 2011 season. With a 53-yard field goal, he set a record-high in NFL football. Two of his three onside kicks were recovered. In a win over Denver, he set a career-high five field goals.

During the 2012 preseason, he competed for the Chargers and had a good showing before losing to Kaeding. On August 31, he was released. After Kaeding sustained a groin injury in September 29, 2012, the Chargers re-signed Novak. After Kaeding was released in late October, he played for three games and became the permanent kicker.

Novak's 18/20 (90%) field goal percentage during the 2012 regular season was the third most effective campaign in Chargers history. His two misses were from 54 and 55 yards. He converted his other two attempts from beyond 50 yards. Novak became only the fourth kicker in Heinz Field history to make a field goal of more than 50 yards on December 9, 2012. The Chargers' first ever regular season victory over the Steelers at Pittsburgh was 34–24. On extra points, he was 33 of 33. He had 22 touchbacks out of 60 kickoffs, with the opposition's normal starting field position being the 21.6 yard-line, with 50% of his onside kicks recovered (NFL average is around 20%). Only 4 of 30 NFL kickers and Special Teams Units with at least 30 kick-offs in 2012 had a better picture. Novak and the Chargers, 20.6 – Browns, 20.8 – Ravens, 21.4 – Browns), a kick-off starting field position. In avg, Novak and the Chargers were ranked at various positions in the top three. For the majority of the year, the kick-off starting field position has been in place.

Novak set a new single-season efficiency record in 2013, scoring on 34 of 37 field goals (91.9%) for the playoff-bound Chargers. His 34 field goals tied John Carney's single-season record for kicks made (34 of 38 in 1994). He was 11 for 11 on kicks over 40 yards, with 2 of his 3 missed kicks blocked. Novak had 5 tackles on Special Teams as well. Novak won the annual award by 353 points over Bolt legends Charlie Joiner and Gary Garrison for their career as a Charger in 2013. He was voted First-Team All-AFC West by the end of the season. Novak also contributed to the Chargers' playoff run by making several late kicks. Novak defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-33-29 in Week 2 after a tie-breaking 45-yard field goal in the final seconds. Novak won by 19-9 over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6 on Monday Night Football vs. the Indianapolis Colts. In overtime, he shot 36-yard field goal, which turned out to be the game-winner in the Chargers' playoff-clinching victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17.

Novak scored two field goals over the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 to stretch his streak of successful field goal attempts to 23, passing Kaeding for second in Chargers history behind Carney's 29. He demolished Carney later this season, extending his streak to 32. Novak was also a punter in Week 14 after replacing injured Mike Scifres. He kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to keep the Chargers in contention for a playoff spot. Novak was released in the final round of preseason cuts in favour of undrafted rookie Josh Lambo in 2015. Novak did not have a touchback in the final half of 2014, while Lambo displayed a strong leg during exhibition games.

During his four years with San Diego, Novak met 101 of 117 (86.3%) field goals. With 503 points, he came in sixth on the all-time Chargers scoring list, beating Lance Alworth's 500 points.

He was released by the Chargers on September 5, 2015.

On September 29, 2015, Novak signed with the Houston Texans. He was 18/20 on field goals, good for 85 percent, with his three missing calls coming from beyond 50 yards in 13 regular season games. It was the fourth most productive season in Texans' history. His longest makeover was from 51 yards. From the new 33-yard PAT distance, he was 29/31 on extra points (93.4%), above the league average of 93.3 percent. Of the 32 NFL kickers with at least 20 PAT's in 2015, 15 of the 32 missed less than 2, and the average number of total misses was 2.09. Novak had his best year on record, collecting 23 on 62 kickoffs. The opponents' average starting field position on Novak's 62 kickoffs was the 24-yard-line (tied for 16th out of the 32 active kick-off specialists and their coverage units as of week 17).

Novak's consistent kicking in 2015 contributed to many victories on the way to the Texans' AFC South Championship.

Novak is the 22nd in NFL history with a career field goal percentage of 82.8 (2005–2016). He has been 154-179 for 86 percent during his six years as the Chargers and Texans' season-long starting place-kicker.

Novak set new single season Texans' record against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24, 2016, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals (34) and field goals attempted (39). With a 12–10 victory, the Texans also secured their second straight AFC South Championship. Novak finished the season with a career-best 35 field goals out of a total of 41 attempts for 85.4%. He finished the season with 127 points, his fourth highest season point total in Texas history.

Novak kicked two field goals, from 50 and 38 yards, and 3 extra points in a 27-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders in a wild card playoff matchup on January 7, 2017.

Novak's one-year contract extension with the Texans was signed on March 8, 2017.

Novak was released by the Texans on September 2, 2017, in favour of Ka'imi Fairbairn, who was believed to have a longer leg.

After struggling with rookie Younghoe Koo, Novak signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on October 5, 2017. He kicked the game-winning field goal against the Oakland Raiders on October 15, 2017. Novak scored 18 points and tied Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for sixth on the all-time scoring list on November 19, 2017. He won with a field goal the next week (503 points). Novak sustained a back injury against the Dallas Cowboys on November 23, 2017. On December 2, 2017, he was put on injured reserve.

Novak was accepted to the 2010 San Diego/LA Chargers All-Decade Team (Boltbeat.com, Chargerswire - USAToday, Boltsfromtheblue.com, The Athletic), and the 2010s.

Novak was signed by the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football league on August 6, 2018. Novak won by 26–0 in the 2019 AAF season opener against the Memphis Express; for his effort, he was named AAF Special Teams Player of the Week. In a 32-29 victory over the Fleet at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego on March 14, 2019, he kicked a memorable last game-winner in his last game-winner. In April 2019, the league ceased operations.

Novak was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 2020 XFL Draft's open phase in October 2019. On March 3, 2020, he was put on the injured reserve. When the league halted operations on April 10, 2020, he had his deal terminated.

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