Noel Jenke

Noel Charles Jenke (December 17, 1946 – July 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for three different teams during the 1971 through 1974 seasons. Before playing professional football, Jenke was a minor league baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization.

Amateur career Jenke attended Owatonna High School in Owatonna, Minnesota, where he lettered each of his three high school years in three sports—football, basketball, and baseball—while captaining each in his senior year. He also played on a local ice hockey team that won state championships and played in national tournaments.

Jenke attended the University of Minnesota, where he again lettered in three sports: three times in football, three times in ice hockey, and one time in baseball. He served as captain of the 1968 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team, Baseball: selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 1969 MLB draft. Ice hockey:Some sources state that Jenke was drafted by the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks;

Baseball After being drafted by the Red Sox, Jenke played three seasons of professional baseball (1969–1971), appearing with the Louisville Colonels (AAA), Winston-Salem Red Sox (A), and Pawtucket Red Sox (AA).

Football After playing minor league baseball for three seasons, Jenke spent the 1971 NFL season with the Vikings, appearing in all 14 regular-season games, During the 1972 preseason, Jenke was waived by the Vikings and claimed by the Atlanta Falcons; he appeared in one regular-season game with the Falcons, During the 1973 preseason, Jenke was released by the Falcons and signed onto the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers. He was activated during the season and appeared in two games with the Packers. and appeared in eight games. In August 1975, the Packers released Jenke; he did not play professional football again.

Personal life Jenke married Jane Schlamel in October 1972; the couple had three sons by 1988. After his professional sports career, Jenke worked in sales for Champion sportswear.