Over five seasons with the Lions, he played in 58 games with 52 starts, including three championship games in 1953, 1954, and 1957. While the 1954 championship game ended in a loss, the other two resulted in the Lions, and Karilivacz, being crowned NFL champions.[1]
New York Giants
Tom Landry, the player-coach of the New York Giants, had been looking for a player to play right cornerback[3] and made a trade for Karilivacz on September 15, 1958, exchanging him for a 1959 fourth-round pick. The Lions later used this pick to select Bob Grottkau 46th overall.[4]
Karilivacz played twelve games in his singular season with the Giants, scoring one touchdown on a 23-yard fumble return.[1]
Los Angeles Rams
After the Giants acquired cornerback Dick Lynch, Karilivacz signed with the Los Angeles Rams.[3] Over two seasons with the Rams, he played in 15 games with 7 starts.[1]
Pittsburgh Steelers
Karilivacz spent a brief amount of time in the 1961 offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released by the Steelers on September 12.[4]
Death
Karilivacz died at his home of a heart attack on August 30, 1969.[5]