Jay Novacek ranks in the all-time elite tier for tight ends — a career that places Novacek in the top 3% of all players at the position. The Knox value model assigns Novacek a career score of 84, reflecting sustained impact that most players at the position never approach.
Jay Novacek
Combined Season Grid
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1 grid split in one view
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Ctch% | Y/R | Y/Tgt | AirYd/T | 1D | |||||
| 1985 | 22–23 | STL | 16 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 4.0 | — | — | — |
| 1986 | 23–24 | STL | 8 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2.0 | — | — | — |
| 1987 | 24–25 | STL | 7 | — | — | 20 | 254 | 3 | — | 12.7 | — | — | — |
| 1988 | 25–26 | ARI | 16 | — | — | 38 | 569 | 4 | — | 15.0 | — | — | — |
| 1989 | 26–27 | ARI | 16 | — | — | 23 | 225 | 1 | — | 9.8 | — | — | — |
| 1990 | 27–28 | DAL | 16 | — | — | 59 | 657 | 4 | — | 11.1 | — | — | — |
| 1991 | 28–29 | DAL | 16 | — | — | 59 | 664 | 4 | — | 11.3 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | 29–30 | DAL | 16 | — | — | 68 | 630 | 6 | — | 9.3 | — | — | — |
| 1993 | 30–31 | DAL | 16 | — | — | 44 | 445 | 1 | — | 10.1 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | 31–32 | DAL | 16 | — | — | 47 | 475 | 2 | — | 10.1 | — | — | — |
| 1995 | 32–33 | DAL | 15 | — | — | 62 | 705 | 5 | — | 11.4 | — | — | — |
| Career | — | 158 | — | — | 422 | 4,630 | 30 | — | 11.0 | — | — | — | |
Career Value · VORP
306 career value over replacement — #121 all-time of 4,649. 27.8/season above a replacement-level TE.
Draft OutcomeSteal ↑
Pick #158 (Rd 6) · STL · 1985 · +57.4 vs expected KV-H
84actual
26.6 expected · Δ+57.4
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