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Howard Ballard
Howard Ballard
Howard Ballard
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Howard Louis Ballard (born November 3, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.[2] He was selected by the Bills in the 11th round of the 1987 NFL draft.[3] Nicknamed "House", for his sturdy build, he played in four Super Bowls and was selected to two Pro Bowls while a member of the Bills. He played college football at Alabama A&M University .

Key Information

After breaking his leg in a game, which ended his career, Ballard worked as a sheriff's deputy in Clay County, Alabama. He eventually returned to school to finish his degree, and started coaching high school football in Pike County, Alabama.

References

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Howard Ballard

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Howard Ballard is an American former professional football player known for his career as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. Nicknamed "House" for his imposing 6-foot-6, 325-pound frame, he was a reliable and durable lineman who earned two Pro Bowl selections and contributed to high-profile playoff runs. Born on November 3, 1963, in Ashland, Alabama, Ballard played college football at Alabama A&M University before being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the 11th round of the 1987 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons with the Bills from 1988 to 1993, starting the majority of his games and participating in four consecutive Super Bowls as part of the team's formidable offensive line during their early 1990s dominance. His standout performances led to back-to-back Pro Bowl honors in 1992 and 1993, along with multiple All-Conference recognitions. Ballard signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 1994 and remained a consistent starter throughout his five seasons there, appearing in every game he played and helping anchor the offensive line. He was later voted to the Seahawks' 35th Anniversary Team in recognition of his contributions to the franchise. Ballard retired following the 1998 season after an 11-year NFL career marked by physicality, consistency, and key roles on competitive teams.

Early Life

Birth and Background

Howard Louis Ballard was born on November 3, 1963, in Ashland, Alabama. Limited public information is available regarding his early family life or childhood in Ashland, a small town in Clay County, east-central Alabama.

Education

Howard Ballard attended Alabama A&M University, where he played college football as an offensive lineman for the Bulldogs from 1982 to 1986. He earned recognition as a two-time All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection during his time with the team. Following his retirement from the National Football League in 1999, Ballard returned to Alabama A&M University to complete his bachelor's degree.

College Career

Alabama A&M University

Howard Ballard played college football at Alabama A&M University as an offensive tackle. He earned first-team all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) honors during his final two seasons in 1986 and 1987. These achievements highlighted his performance at the historically Black university and contributed to his induction into the Alabama A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. His college career culminated in selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 11th round (283rd overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Professional Football Career

Buffalo Bills Tenure

Howard Ballard was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 11th round (283rd overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He signed with the team and made his NFL debut in 1988, appearing in all 16 regular season games as a reserve offensive tackle. Starting in 1989, Ballard became a full-time starter, beginning all 16 games that year, and he maintained that role through 1993, starting every regular season contest in each of those five seasons for a total of 80 consecutive starts. As a key member of the Bills' offensive line, Ballard contributed to the team's consistent success in the early 1990s, helping Buffalo reach four consecutive Super Bowls—Super Bowl XXV through Super Bowl XXVIII—following the 1990 to 1993 seasons. He appeared in 96 regular season games (80 starts) and 16 playoff games (14 starts) during his six seasons with the Bills from 1988 to 1993. Ballard's standout play earned him Pro Bowl selections in 1992 and 1993. After the 1993 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1994.

Seattle Seahawks Tenure

Howard Ballard signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 1994 and played his final five NFL seasons with the team through 1998. Over that span, he appeared in 74 games and started all 74 at right offensive tackle, providing reliable protection and run blocking. Known as "House" for his imposing 6-foot-6, 325-pound build and sturdy play, Ballard anchored the offensive line during his time in Seattle. In 2010, Ballard was named to the Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team in recognition of his contributions to the franchise. His overall NFL career concluded with 170 games played, 154 starts, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Television and Media Appearances

NFL on CBS and Other Broadcasts

Howard Ballard appeared as himself in various NFL television broadcasts during his professional playing career with the Buffalo Bills (1988–1993) and Seattle Seahawks (1994–1998). These credits primarily reflect his participation as an active player in games televised on major networks, where he was listed in the capacity of a team tackle. He was featured in The NFL on CBS across four episodes from 1990 to 1998, credited as a Buffalo Bills tackle in earlier appearances and as a Seattle Seahawks tackle in later ones. This period aligned with his time in the league, including games broadcast by CBS during both his Bills and Seahawks tenures. Ballard also appeared in other prominent NFL-related broadcasts. He was credited in nineteen episodes of The NFL on NBC from 1989 to 1997 as a Buffalo Bills or Seattle Seahawks tackle, thirteen episodes of NFL Monday Night Football from 1989 to 1993 as a Buffalo Bills tackle, seven episodes of ESPN's Sunday Night Football from 1991 to 1998 as a Buffalo Bills or Seattle Seahawks tackle, and four episodes of TNT Sunday Night Football from 1990 to 1996 as a Buffalo Bills or Seattle Seahawks tackle. In addition, he was featured as himself in several high-profile postseason broadcasts, including Super Bowl XXV (1991), Super Bowl XXVI (1992), Super Bowl XXVII (1993), and Super Bowl XXVIII (1994) as a Buffalo Bills right tackle, as well as the 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993 AFC Championship Games as a Buffalo Bills tackle. No additional television credits as an analyst, commentator, or in non-game contexts are documented for Ballard.

Post-Football Career

Law Enforcement and Coaching

After retiring from the NFL, Howard Ballard worked as a sheriff's deputy in Clay County, Alabama. He eventually returned to school to finish his degree at Alabama A&M University and started coaching high school football with the Pike County Bulldogs in Pike County, Alabama. He later served as the offensive line coach for the Lane College Dragons in Jackson, Tennessee.

Personal Life

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