| No. 55 | |||||||
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| Positions | Offensive tackle, Center | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1947-08-30)August 30, 1947 (age 78) 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: 3rd round, 56th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| 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 professionalfootball player who was anoffensive tackle andcenter for 13 seasons with thePittsburgh Steelers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theOklahoma State Cowboys. He was also an occasionalstrongman competitor in some of the earlyWorld's Strongest Man contests.
Born inPonca City, Oklahoma, Kolb attendedOwasso High School, where he earned all-state honors during his senior year. He attendedOklahoma State University–Stillwater where he started atcenter. While at OSU, he was named All-Big Eight in 1967 and 1968 and was selected asAll-American in 1968.
Kolb was drafted by Pittsburgh out of OSU in1969, so he played with the Steelers from 1969 to 1981. Kolb did not join in any game during his first two years, not until 1971, where he started as the leftoffensive tackle, replacingMike Haggerty, for all 14 games. He remained in that position until 1981, his final year, though in the final two years he shared time withTed Petersen (1980) andRay Pinney (1981). He played next to left guardSam Davis from 1971 to 1979, which was Davis' final year. Overall, Kolb started atoffensive tackle in 177 games and earned 4Super 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. He played like the strongest one, protectingTerry Bradshaw's blind side from his left offensive tackle position on pass plays and opening holes forrunning backsFranco Harris,Rocky Bleier, andJohn Fuqua. Like many of the Steeler players of the 1970s, Kolb had his own cadre of fans, known as "Kolb's Kowboys."[1]
Kolb competed in the second and third annualWorld's Strongest Man competitions in 1978 and 1979, placing in the 4th rank for both years, while often defeating much heavier and stronger competitors in certain events.[2]
After his playing career ended, he became a strength and conditioning coach with the Steelers. He founded a nonprofit organization called Adventures In Training With A Purpose where he works with his family until now. ATP serves veterans and first responders by offering free physical and mental health services. It also serves civilians living with chronic disease and illness.
Kolb currently resides inHermitage, Pennsylvania with his wife Deborah. They have three sons. He served as the defensive coordinator forGrove City College for six seasons. Kolb is currently teaching part-time in the Human Performance and Exercise Science department atYoungstown State University inYoungstown, Ohio as well as BC3 in New Castle, Pennsylvania.