Hall of Honor

Jeff Novak

  • Class
  • Induction
    2015
  • Sport(s)
    Football
Jeff Novak was a three-year letter winner for the Bobcat football team from 1987-89. An offensive tackle for the Bobcats, due to an injury, Novak did not play his freshman season and walked on to the Bobcat football team his sophomore year.  After making the team under Coach John O’Hara, Novak earned a full scholarship and was twice voted team captain for the Bobcats.  A decorated lineman, in both 1988 and 1989 he was named First Team All-Southland Conference.  Novak was also selected as a First-Team All-American in 1989.  In 2013, Novak was named to the Southland Conference All-Decade Team.
Gallery: (11-2-2020) Jeff Novak Hall of Honor

After playing three years at Texas State, Novak was drafted in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. After being released by the Chargers, Novak started his professional career as a member of the Montreal Machine, playing in the NFL’s development league, the World League of Football.  While playing for Montreal in the spring of 1991 and 1992, Novak also was picked up by the New York Giants to play in the fall during those same years. Novak was then signed by the Miami Dolphins, and remained with the Dolphins from 1993 to 1994.  

In 1995, Novak was picked second overall in the NFL expansion draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. That season Novak started in 15 of the 16 games. Novak was selected as team captain.  He was also honored to be selected by his teammates to be the Jaguars’ NFL Players Association Player Representative. He played a total of four seasons for the Jaguars.  In total, Novak played professionally for nine years, playing in a total of 75 games and starting in 30 games.  During his career, he played offensive lineman but was also a special teams standout, playing on both kickoff coverage and returns, as well as field goals and extra points. During his career he won four playoff games, including a victory over John Elway and the Denver Broncos in Mile High Stadium in 1996.  The Broncos were 14-2, and the Jaguars were a 9-7 wild card team.  They defeated the Broncos in what is considered one of the top 10 biggest upsets in NFL playoff history.  Novak and the Jaguars advanced all the way to the AFC Championship game that season to face the New England Patriots.

After his career in the NFL ended, Novak began a successful career in real estate, initially on the marketing side of real estate with IF Marketing and Advertising.  For the past eight years, Novak has owned his own real estate develop company, Novak Brothers.  In 2015, Novak returned to Texas State and graduated with a degree in Applied Arts. 

Aside from football, Novak is an active member of his community. He has been voluntarily coaching locally for 15 years and is involved heavily with many local charities and community organizations.  

Novak is also deeply involved with Texas State. He has been a football season ticket holder for 15 years and a member of the Athletic Department’s Touchdown Team.  Novak is also a member of the Texas State University Development Foundation, a key group of stakeholders that supports and furthers the mission of Texas State University through the acceptance and investment of gifts established as endowments benefiting the students, faculty and staff. He has also been a keynote speaker and fundraiser at several University events and is actively involved in other various fundraising initiatives. 

Novak currently resides in Georgetown, Texas and is married to his wife of 25 years, Kimberly. Together they have four children: Cade (22), Cole (20), Calli (18), Corinne (16).
 
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