During his record-setting 1984 season, he registered 33 receptions for 745 yards and 4 touchdowns, earning consensus All-American honors and a first-team Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selection. Novacek began his professional football journey after being selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He transitioned to tight end in 1986 and notably recorded 38 receptions for 569 yards and 4 touchdowns for the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988.
His high school accomplishments were acknowledged with his induction into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1996. He later received one of the sport’s highest honors with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Further cementing his legacy, Novacek was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2014, celebrating his significant contributions to the sport.