John Zook facts for kids
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| No. 71, 63 | |
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| Position: | Defensive End |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | September 24, 1947 Garden City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died: | June 6, 2020 (aged 72) Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 243 lb (110 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Larned |
| College: | Kansas |
| NFL Draft: | 1969 / Round: 4 / Pick: 99 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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John Eldon Zook (September 24, 1947 – June 6, 2020) was an American professional football player. He played as a defensive end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). John Zook played for the Atlanta Falcons and the St. Louis Cardinals. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the University of Kansas.
John Zook's Early Life and College Career
John Zook was born in Garden City, Kansas. He grew up in the towns of Zook and Larned in Kansas. He was a fantastic player during his college years.
At the University of Kansas, Zook was a key player. He earned "all-conference" honors twice. This means he was one of the best players in his college football league.
In 1967, he was an "honorable mention All-American." The next year, in 1968, he was named a consensus All-American. This is a huge honor for college players. He helped his team reach the Orange Bowl that year. The University of Kansas team was ranked No. 6 in the country.
Zook made 202 tackles during his college career. This put him among the top defensive linemen at the University of Kansas. His coach, Pepper Rodgers, praised him for always playing at full speed. John Zook was also chosen for the KU All-Time team.
John Zook's NFL Journey
John Zook started his professional career in 1969. He was picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1969 NFL Draft. Soon after, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Then, the Eagles traded him to the Atlanta Falcons. This is where his NFL journey truly began.
Zook played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1969 to 1975. He played in 144 games during his NFL career. In 1973, he had a standout season. He was named a Second-team All-Pro. This means he was considered one of the best players in the entire league at his position.
He was also chosen for the Pro Bowl in 1973. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. Zook was also a Second-team All-NFC player in both 1972 and 1973.
In 1976, John Zook was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for the Cardinals until he finished his career. During his time with the Falcons, he made history. He recorded the very first "safety" for the Falcons team. A safety is a special play in football that earns points for the defensive team.
John Zook passed away on June 6, 2020, in Kansas.
