American football player (1926–2015)
Joseph Robert Soboleski Jr. (August 22, 1926 – November 12, 2015) was an American football guard.
Soboleski began his football career playing for Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from high school, Soboleski spent 18 months in the United States Navy, including eight months in the Pacific Theater during World War II.[1] He played college football at the University of Michigan as a defensive lineman from 1945 to 1948.[1] He was a starting defensive lineman on Michigan's undefeated 1947 and 1948 national championship teams. At the conclusion of his college career, Soboleski was selected to play in the 1949 College All-Star Game in Chicago.[2]
Soboleski was selected in the ninth round of the 1949 NFL draft by the New York Giants, but he signed instead with the Chicago Hornets of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).[3] Soboleski played four years of professional football for five teams: Chicago Hornets (1949), Washington Redskins (1949),[4] Detroit Lions (1950),[5] the New York Yanks (1951),[6] and the Dallas Texans (1952).[7][8] He was released by the Texans after 24–6 loss in the 1952 season opener.[9]
References
- ^ a b Jan Brodt (December 10, 1947). "Soboleski Comes From School Of Rough And Ready Guards". Michigan Daily.
- ^ "Three Added to All-Star Eleven" (PDF). The New York Times. July 3, 1949.
- ^ "Soboleski, Armstrong Signed By Hornets". Youngstown Vindicator. March 11, 1949.
- ^ "Guard Joe Soboleski Signed By Redskins". The Sun, Baltimore, Md. October 27, 1949. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012.
- ^ "Soboleski To Lions". Michigan Daily. July 9, 1950.
- ^ "Football Yanks Sign Soboleski, Ex-Lion Guard". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1951.
- ^ "Two Linemen Sign Dallas Grid Pacts". Sunday Herald. April 13, 1952.
- ^ "Joe Soboleski". pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "Texans Sign 3 Players, Request Waivers on 4" (PDF). The New York Times. September 30, 1952.
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