Tom Janik

Thomas Alvin Janik (September 6, 1940 – November 21, 2009) was an American college and Professional Football player who was born in Poth, Texas. He attended the Texas College of Arts and Industries (now Texas A&M), where he was an all-conference running back and punter. He was inducted to the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982. Janik was a safety for nine seasons of Professional Football. He played for the American Football League's Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Boston Patriots, and for the NFL's Patriots. He was an AFL All-Star in 1965, when he played for the AFL Champion Bills, and again in 1967.

One of Janik's biggest games was the September 18, 1968 contest at home against the New York Jets, in which the Bills' defensive backfield picked off Joe Namath seven times, three times for TDs as Butch Byrd and Booker Edgerson had 53 and 45-yard TD interceptions within 1:02, and Janik had one of two picks go for a 100-yard score. The Bills won a barn-burner, 37–35, which was Buffalo's only win of the season. The Jets went on to finish 11–3, and won the AFL title before going on to defeat the overrated Colts in the Third AFL-NFL World Championship Game.

See also

• Other American Football League players

External links

• Janik's citation in the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame
• Janik's 1964 Topps Football card
• Video of Janik's 100-yard interception return