Nick Novak’s pro career to continue in AAF
By Travis Wakeman
Nick Novak was probably the best kicker the Los Angeles Chargers had last season. Though, that’s not saying much.
In his third stint with the Chargers last season, Novak was signed in relief of Younghoe Koo and made nine of his 13 field-goal attempts. But a back injury suffered on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys shut him down for the season and forced the Chargers to go to their third kicker of the year, which of course eventually led to the forth.
The Chargers hope they’ve found an answer in Caleb Sturgis (or even Roberto Aguayo), but Novak is not ready to hang up his cleats.
On Monday, the Alliance of American Football announced its first 100 player signings. Among those was Novak, who will head to the Alliance team based in Birmingham.
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The AAF is a professional league that will begin play this February, following Super Bowl LIII. It will feature eight teams and a 10-game season. The league was co-founded by Charlie Ebersol and former NFL executive Bill Polian.
The league also has several former NFL personnel involved in its operations, including Troy Polumalu, Hines Ward and Justin Tuck.
Novak is the first former Chargers player to sign on with the league, but he’s no stranger to kicking in many different places and leagues. In addition to kicking for nine different NFL teams, he also played for the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe as well as the Florida Tuskers of the now defunct United Football League.
Novak will be 37 years old when the AAF season starts, but he should have a chance to be one of the new league’s best placekickers.
Also of note for Chargers fans is the fact that the league will have a team in San Diego. That team will play its home games at the San Diego County Credit Union Stadium and will be coached by former offensive wizard Mike Martz.