Traynowicz participated in football, wrestling and track and field at Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Nebraska, earning nine varsity letters. In 1979, he was a first-team All-State football selection and won the Nebraska Class A state heavyweight wrestling championship with a final record of 29 wins and one loss. He also qualified for the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships in discus in 1980 and shot put from 1978 to 1980.[4]
College career
Traynowicz earned a football scholarship to play for the Cornhuskers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.[4] He was named first-team All-Big Eight and first-team Academic All-Big Eight his junior year. He was a first-team unanimous All-American and an Academic All-American his senior year of 1984. Traynowicz was also named first-team All-Big Eight and first-team Academic All-Big Eight for the second time.[5]
Professional career
Traynowiczwas drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 29th pick in the 1985 NFL Draft.[6] He signed with the Bills in July 1985.[7] He played in 41 games with the Bills from 1985 to 1987.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional draft choice in 1989 on August 22, 1988.[8][9][10] He was released on August 25, 1988.[11]
Traynowicz appeared in four games for the Buffalo Bills in 1988. He played in seven games with the Phoenix Cardinals from 1988 to 1989.