Rick Volk

Volk played as a free safety for twelve seasons in the NFL. He was selected four times as an NFL All-Pro (1968-1971) and played three times in the Pro Bowl (1967, 1969, 1971).[14] Volk also played in the Super Bowl twice for the Baltimore Colts as a member of the Super Bowl III team and the Super Bowl V winning team.

He made a name for himself as a rookie in 1967 by recovering an onside kick to help the Colts defeat the Packers. He also set a Colts team record for the longest interception runback with a 94-yard touchdown return against Chicago in November 1967.[15] Volk's interception of the pass intended for Brian Piccolo was his third interception in four games. For his performance against the Bears, he was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Week.[16] At the end of his rookie season, Volk was chosen to play in his first Pro Bowl game.[14]

In his second season with the team, Volk intercepted 6 passes and totaled 154 yards on interception returns. He also returned 25 punts for 198 yards (6th best in the NFL) in 1968.[14] He was selected as a first-team NFL All-Pro player at the end of the 1968 NFL season by the Pro Football Writers, the Newspaper Ent. Association, and the United Press International.[14] The Colts won the NFL championship in 1968 and played Joe Namath's AFL champion New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Volk was knocked unconscious during Super Bowl III when he collided helmet-to-helmet with Jets fullback Matt Snell.[17] Volk was rushed to the hospital after he went into convulsions after a second concussion on a 4th quarter onside kick attempt by the Colts. He was put in the intensive care ward for two days and moved to a regular room on the Tuesday after the game.[18][19]

In 1970, Volk helped lead the Colts to another Super Bowl appearance, but were now representing the AFC following the merger of the two leagues (NFL and AFL) that year. This time, the Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V. Volk was responsible for covering Pro Football Hall of Famers Bob Hayes and Mike Ditka in the Super Bowl,[20] and he played a key role in the Colts' victory. In the fourth quarter, the Colts trailed the Cowboys 13–6. Volk intercepted a pass by Cowboys quarterback Craig Morton at the Dallas 33-yard line and returned it 30 yards to the 3-yard line to set up the tying touchdown.[21][22] Baltimore quarterback Earl Morrall later referred to Volk's interception as the play of the game.[23] Interviewed in 2009, Volk cited Super Bowl V as his fondest memory of playing in Baltimore. He recalled team owner Carroll Rosenbloom flying the whole team, families included, to the Bahamas the day after the game: "The next day we all got on the plane and flew over to the Bahamas. He took the whole family – my wife and one kid, at the time. I remember we were on the beach, Tom Mitchell and I, and we got the paper to make sure it was really true - that we did win. Because this was like a dream come true on the sand beaches in the Bahamas."[1]

Volk had his best season in 1971 when he was picked as a first-team NFL All-Pro by the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers, and the Newspaper Ent. Association.[14] He remained with Colts for nine years and was one of the last players from the Super Bowl V champions to remain with the team. In 1974, one Maryland sports writer noted that Volk remained a solid performer: "Although the Colts suffered through an overall dismal campaign in 1973, Volk remained one of the few solid performers in an otherwise lackluster season."[24] In June 1975, Volk prepared for his ninth season with the Colts as one columnist wrote:

"Rick Volk has seen both ends of the rainbow in his tenure with the Baltimore Colts. The personable veteran defensive back has known the sweet taste of success, attested by the Super Bowl ring he often wears, and also has survived the agony of defeat — especially after people like Don Shula, John Unitas, Bubba Smith and Tom Matte were no longer wanted or appreciated in the Monumental City."[25]

Volk was placed on waivers by the Colts in April 1976;[26] he was picked up by the Denver Broncos one week later. With Volk's departure, punter David Lee was the sole remaining player on the Baltimore roster from the 1970 Super Bowl team.[27]

In October 1977, Volk was selected as a starter on the Colts' 25th anniversary team. The team was selected by the fans in Baltimore, and the only players at any position to receive more votes than Volk were David Lee, Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Alan Ameche, Gino Marchetti, John Mackey, Mike Curtis, Art Donovan, Alex Sandusky, Jim Parker and Bobby Boyd.[28]

Volk was cut by the Broncos in August 1976 and signed by the Miami Dolphins two weeks later.[29] He did not play for the Dolphins in 1976 and was signed mid-season by the New York Giants.[30] Volk played in 8 games for the Giants in 1976 and tallied 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery.[14] Volk was cut by the Giants in early September 1977, shortly before the start of the regular season.[31] Volk recalled the disappointment at being cut by the Giants at age 32: "I felt I should have been in New York, but they went with younger people. I was very disappointed, especially to get cut at the end of training camp. I'd done all the hard training and was ready for the season – the fun time."[32] He returned to his home in Baltimore and worked during the fall as a manufacturer's representative.[32]

Volk signed with the Miami Dolphins for the final month of the 1977 NFL season.[32] He played in three games for the 1977 Miami Dolphins and had one interception (off Buffalo Bills quarterback Joe Ferguson).[14] Miami head coach Don Shula, who had worked with Volk in Baltimore, said, "We got him in the last four games, and he showed us some great hitting. He also didn't seem to have lost any speed."[32]

During the 1978 NFL season, Volk appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins, 13 of them as a starter. Volk started the season strong, intercepting a pass in the season opener against the New York Jets. In the second game of the season, the Dolphins played the Colts in Baltimore. Volk intercepted two passes against Baltimore quarterback Bill Troup and helped the Dolphins to a 42–0 win. After the game, Volk told reporters, "I wanted to have a good game in Baltimore, and I couldn't have asked for anything better than the way it turned out."[32] While Volk began the 1978 season as a starter, he was replaced by Charlie Babb for the final four games.[33] After the Dolphins lost the AFC wildcard game to the Oilers, Volk announced his retirement. Volk told reporters he had wanted to end his career with a championship team and added, "When the game's over, you can't worry about it. For most of the guys, there'll be another season. For me, this is it."[34]