He played college football at Pittsburgh, and was selected by the Steelers in the ninth round of the 1954 NFL draft.
He attended Clark High School in Scott Township, and was an all-state performer in football as a senior in 1949.
[3] A profile of Zombek in The Pittsburgh Press wrote of him: "A happy-go-lucky lad who likes to tinker with cars in his spare time, he permits no friendships once he takes the field.
After an injury to Bill McPeak, Zombek came back to the team for their game with the Philadelphia Eagles.
[8][9] Zombek later was a salesman and manager at Jessop Steel Co. from 1956 to 1967, and was the owner of the Cherry Hills Inn and Resort in McDonald, Pennsylvania, from 1964 to until at least 1987.