Jon Kolb

Not to be confused with American politician John Kolb.

Jon Kolb

No. 55
Position:	Offensive tackle, Center
Personal information
Born:	(1947-08-30) August 30, 1947 (age 76) Ponca City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	262 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:	Owasso (Owasso, Oklahoma)
College:	Oklahoma State
NFL draft:	1969  / Round: 3 / Pick: 56
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (1969–1981)
Career highlights and awards
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV) First-team All-Pro (1979) Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team Pittsburgh Steelers 50th season All-Time team Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor 2× Second-team All-American (1967, 1968) 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1967, 1968)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 177 Games started: 138
Player stats at PFR

Competition record
Strongman
Representing  United States
World's Strongest Man
4th	1978 World's Strongest Man
4th	1979 World's Strongest Man

Jon Kolb (born August 30, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle and center for 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He was also an occasional strongman competitor in some of the early World's Strongest Man contests.

Early life

Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Kolb attended Owasso High School, where he earned all-state honors during his senior year. He attended Oklahoma State University–Stillwater where he started at center. While at OSU he was named All-Big Eight in 1967 and 1968 and was selected All-American in 1968.

Professional career

Kolb was drafted by Pittsburgh out of OSU in 1969, and played with the Steelers from 1969 to 1981. Kolb did not start in any game during his first two years, but became the starting left offensive tackle in 1971, replacing Mike Haggerty, for all 14 games, remaining in that position until 1981, his final year, though in the final two years he shared time with Ted Petersen (1980) and Ray Pinney (1981). He played next to left guard Sam Davis from 1971 to 1979, Davis' final year. Overall, Kolb started at offensive tackle in 177 games and earned 4 Super Bowl rings, during the 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 seasons.

During his playing days, Kolb was widely regarded as one of the strongest men in the NFL and played like the strongest one, protecting Terry Bradshaw's blind side from his left offensive tackle position on pass plays and opening holes for running backs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, and John Fuqua. Like many of the Steeler players of the 1970s, Kolb had his own cadre of fans, known as "Kolb's Kowboys." ^[1]

Strongman competitions

Kolb competed in the second and third annual World's Strongest Man competitions in 1978 and 1979, placing on a very good 4th rank in both years, while often defeating much heavier and stronger competitors in certain events. ^[2]

Life after competition

After his playing career ended, he became a strength and conditioning coach with the Steelers. He has since founded and still works with his family in a nonprofit called Adventures In Training With A Purpose. ATP serves veterans and first responders offering free physical and mental health services. ATP also serves civilians living with chronic disease and illness.

Personal life

Kolb currently resides in Hermitage, Pennsylvania with his wife Deborah. They have three sons. He served as the defensive coordinator for Grove City College for six seasons. Kolb is currently teaching part-time in the Human Performance and Exercise Science department at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio as well as at BC3 in New Castle, Pennsylvania.

References

1. "Steelers Rewind - Looking Back in Steelers History (July Edition)". www.steelersdepot.com. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
2. "WSM Results - the Worlds Strongest Man". Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-02-17. Retrieved 17 Feb 2012