Joel Makovicka
{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image =
|name=Joel Makovicka
|number=34
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1975|10|6|mf=y}}
|birth_place= Brainard, Nebraska, U.S.
|death_date=
|position=Fullback
|high_school=Brainard (NE) East Butler
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 246
| draftyear = 1999
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 116
|college=Nebraska
| teams =
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1999|2002}})
| statlabel4 = Rushing attempts
| statvalue4 = 17
| statlabel5 = Rushing yards
| statvalue5 = 88
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 47
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 264
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 5
| pfr = M/MakoJo00
}}
Joel P. Makovicka (born October 6, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Career
Makovicka is one of the most decorated fullbacks in Husker history and owns the school record for a fullback with 13 career touchdowns from 1995 to 1998. During his stay at Nebraska, Makovicka was a two-time first-team Academic All-American and three-time first-team Academic All-Big 12 performer. He also was a member of three national championship teams. The younger brother of another Husker walk-on fullback from Brainard, Nebraska, Jeff Makovicka, Joel finished his career with 1,447 yards rushing on an average of 5.9 yards per carry while making 22 starts for the scarlet and cream. As a junior, he produced the fourth-highest rushing total by a fullback in school history with 685 yards. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft and started 10 games at fullback for the Cardinals as a rookie.{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
Post-playing career
After his football career he returned to school at Creighton University where he received his doctorate in physical therapy. He opened his first PT clinic in 2009 and now manages a practice with numerous clinics in the Omaha and Lincoln metro area.{{Cite web |title=Makovicka Physical Therapy |url=https://makovickapt.com/about|language=en}}
Personal life
Makovicka's cousin, Michael Helman, plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers.{{cite web | url=https://12thman.com/sports/baseball/roster/michael-helman/5180 | title=Michael Helman – Baseball }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football navbox}}
{{1997 Nebraska Cornhuskers football navbox}}
{{Arizona Cardinals 1999 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Makovicka, Joel}}
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players
Category:Players of American football from Nebraska
Category:Creighton University alumni
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
{{Runningback-1970s-stub}}