Emil Karas (December 13, 1933 – November 25, 1974) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and in the American Football League (AFL) with the Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers. He was on the Chargers' 1963 AFL Championship team, and an AFL All-Star in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Karas played college football at the University of Dayton and was drafted in the third round of the 1959 NFL draft. He died of pancreatic cancer on November 25, 1974, at age 40.