A tight end in the National Football League for seven years, Brent Novoselsky first played with the Chicago Bears (1988) and then the Minnesota Vikings (1989-1994). A defining moment in his professional career occurred in the last game of the 1989 NFL season, when Novoselsky was playing for the Vikings in a close game against the Cincinnati Bengals. On fourth and goal from the one yard line, Novoselsky made a fantastic over the shoulder catch, which cemented the Vikings lead 29-21. It was Novoselsky’s fourth and final catch of the season. The win clinched the NFC Central Division for the Vikings over the Green Bay Packers, and the Vikings advanced to the NFC playoffs.
With an NFL career that spanned seven years, he had played over 100 games, achieved over 100 special teams’ tackles, 14 receptions and two touchdowns. His career ended unexpectedly with a serious neck injury.
Novoselsky had left his hometown of Skokie, IL when he enrolled in the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Captain of the football team (1987), All Ivy First Team (1986), All Ivy Second Team, he was awarded the Edgar Church Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to Penn Football. The 1986 undefeated season earned the team a place in Penn lore as one of the most accomplished teams ever to wear the red and blue. Graduating with honors, Novoselsky earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a concentration in entrepreneurial management.
Inducted into the Chicago Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, he served as President and Treasurer for the NFL Players Association Former Players Chicago Chapter. He also serves as co-chair in his local Bnai Brith Chapter’s scholarship program for Jewish area high school seniors which he received back in 1984. Along the way, Novoselsky earned a brown belt in Taekwondo.
With a successful pivot, he used the structure and work ethic of sports into a career in wealth management.
He and his wife, Andrea, live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with their three children: Alec, Zachary and Mackenzie.
