Zelenka also played for the Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.

Joe started playing football at a very early age in the Catholic Youth Organization football league in northern Ohio, playing for the St. Mary's Chargers (Berea, OH).

Zelenka attended Benedictine High School (Cleveland, Ohio) and was a letterman in football.

Zelenka attended Wake Forest University and in addition to handling longsnapping duties, he was a tight end.

This biographical article relating to an American football tight end born in the 1970s is a stub.