Dan Jilek
{{Short description|American football player (1953–2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dan Jilek
| number = 51
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|12|3}}
| birth_place = Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|3|6|1953|12|3}}
| death_place = Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 220
| high_school = Stevenson
| college = Michigan
| draftyear = 1976
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 109
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL year|1976|1979}})
| highlights =
- 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1974, 1975)
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 2.0
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 5
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr =JileDa20
}}
Daniel Douglas Jilek (December 3, 1953 – March 6, 2002) was an American football linebacker and defensive end. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines (1973–1975) and professional football for the Buffalo Bills (1976–1979).
Early years
Jilek was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1953.{{cite news|title=Dan Jilek|publisher=Pro Football Archives|accessdate=August 21, 2023|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerj/jile00200.html}} He attended Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights, Michigan, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. In football, he played at the halfback and linebacker positions and led the team in both touchdowns and tackles.{{cite news|title=Meet Dan .. a '9-Letterman'|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=January 5, 1972|page=5D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-dan-jilek/130385865/|via=Newspapers.com}} Jilek was posthumously inducted into Adlai E. Stevenson High School's athletic hall of fame as part of the inaugural class in 2023.{{cite web |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=Jonathan |title=Stevenson to host inaugural athletic hall of fame induction |url=https://www.candgnews.com/news/stevenson-to-host-inaugural-athletic-hall-of-fame-induction-3325 |website=Sterling Heights Sentry |access-date=October 5, 2023}}
University of Michigan
Jilek enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1972 and played college football at the defensive end position for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1973, 1974, and 1975. During Jilek's three seasons with the team, the Wolverines compiled a 28–3–3 record and gave up an average of only 8.0 points per game. As a senior, Jilek was selected as a first-team defensive end on the 1975 All-Big Ten Conference football team,{{cite news|title=All-Big Ten selections|newspaper=The Daily Northwestern|date=November 26, 1974|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/38642016/?terms=griffin%2Blick%2Bperretta%2B%22associated%2Bpress%22}}{{cite news|title=Buckeyes Dominate All-Big Ten Team |newspaper=Ludington Daily News (UPI story)|date=November 27, 1974|page=6|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19741123&id=z5BaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Q0oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6547,4952659}}{{cite news|title=Many Buckeyes on all Big Ten|author=Ed Sainsbury|newspaper=The Bryan Times (UPI story)|date=November 27, 1974|page=9|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19741126&id=KcAwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-VEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2549,5033986}} and a first-team Academic All-American.{{cite news|title=U-M's Dan Jilek Named Academic All-America|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=February 12, 1976|page=8D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-u-ms-dan-jilek-named/130386093/|via=Newspapers.com}}
Buffalo Bills
Jilek was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round (109th overall pick) of the 1976 NFL draft.{{cite news|title=Jilek signs with Bills|newspaper=The Michigan Daily|date=June 10, 1976|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UP9JAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DR4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5608,1704057&dq=dan-jilek&hl=en}}{{cite news|title=Jilek Is a Positive In the Big Picture|newspaper=Buffalo Evening News|date=July 22, 1976|page=28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-jilek-is-a-positive-in/130386473/|via=Newspapers.com}} As a rookie in 1976, he started 14 games for the Bills, intercepted two passes, recovered three fumbles and was the Bills' rookie of the year. He played for the Bills as a linebacker from 1976 to 1979, appearing in 58 games, 29 of them as a starter.
Later years
After retiring from football, Jilek operated an insurance company. He died in 2002 at age 48 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.{{cite news|title=Ex-Bills Linebacker Jilek Dies at Age 48|newspaper=The Buffalo News|date=March 10, 2002}}{{cite news|title=Former U-M star Jilek dies|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=March 10, 2002|page=12D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-former-u-m-star-jilek/130386355/|via=Newspapers.com}}
A 5k fun run is held each fall to honor Dan Jilek's memory and to support his commitment to improve youth via athletics.
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JileDa20.htm Pro-Football reference]
{{Bills1976DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jilek, Dan}}
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Players of American football from Cedar Rapids, Iowa