1985 USFL Draft. As a rookie, he was a wide receiver and played mainly on special teams. In 1986, he was moved to tight end, but was placed on the injured reserve list on August 19. He was activated on October 17, but was placed again on the injured reserve list on December 10. In 1987, he began the season as the starter at tight end, until suffering a broken elbow against the New York Giants on October 25. After rookie Rob Awalt had a break-out game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Novacek was placed on the injured reserve list on November 2. He finished the season with 20 receptions for 254 yards and 3 touchdowns, producing just 2 receptions in his first two seasons and only 22 after three years. In 1988, the Cardinals franchise moved to Phoenix and even though Awalt remained the starter at tight end, Novacek still ranked third on the team with 569 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. The next year with Gary Hogeboom instead of Neil Lomax as the team's starting quarterback, his production fell to 23 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown. In 1990, Joe Bugel was hired as the new head coach, who looked for the tight end position to be either a blocker or perform H-back type functions. Novacek was not seen as a good fit for the new system and was left unprotected—eligible to sign with any team under Plan B free agency. Dallas Cowboys In 1990, the Dallas Cowboys signed Novacek as a Plan B free agent, arguably the best signing in the history of this program. He was named the starter at tight end, even though the Cowboys also acquired Awalt to compete for the position. He would go on to have a break-out season, becoming one of the league's top receiving tight ends, while registering 59 receptions for 657 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was a key contributor for the offense in the early 1990s, especially on third downs where he could find the soft spot in the defense. Beginning in 1991, he played in five straight Pro Bowls, while helping the Cowboys make the playoffs each year and winning the Super Bowl three times in four seasons. Although blocking was not his strength, he did a solid job locking up opponents. In 1992, he was named an All-Pro after leading all tight ends with 68