Tony Siragusa

Anthony Siragusa Sr. (May 14, 1967 – June 22, 2022), nicknamed "the Goose", was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 12 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). After his football career, he worked as a sideline analyst for NFL games broadcast on the Fox Network from 2003 to 2015. He also hosted various shows on television, such as the home renovation program ''Man Caves'' on the DIY Network.

Early life

Siragusa attended David Brearley High School in Kenilworth, New Jersey and was also a member of the wrestling team. He was the New Jersey state wrestling champion with a 97–1 career record. In football, he played defensive line, punted, and place kicked. He had a 39-yard punting average and was 15-of-18 on extra point attempts.

College career

Siragusa attended the University of Pittsburgh and played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He was a starting defensive tackle in his sophomore and junior seasons (1986 and 1987) under head coach Mike Gottfried.

During a practice in April 1988, Siragusa tore his left anterior cruciate ligament, and underwent surgery that forced him to sit out the entire 1988 season. Before his injury, Siragusa was considered a potential first-round draft pick, but afterwards, he was seen as such a risk that he went undrafted in the 1990 NFL draft.

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts

Siragusa was an undrafted free agent in 1990 and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as a defensive tackle. He used to play nose tackle to draw the double teams when the Indianapolis Colts were in a 3-4 defense or 4-3 defense. As a rookie, he appeared in 13 games, started six games, and recorded one sack, 36 total tackles, and one fumble recovery. In the 1991 season, he appeared in 13 games, started six, and recorded two sacks, one fumble recovery, and 46 combined tackles. In the 1992 season, he appeared in all 16 games, started 12, and recorded three sacks and 65 combined tackles. In the 1993 season, he appeared in and started 14 games and recorded 1.5 sacks and 76 combined tackles. In the 1994 season, he appeared in and started all 16 games and recorded five sacks, 88 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. In the 1995 season, he appeared in and started 14 games and recorded two sacks, 49 total tackles, and one forced fumble.

Siragusa was a key part of the Colts team that narrowly lost the 1995 AFC Championship Game; after the season, he was unhappy that Colts coach Ted Marchibroda was given a no-raise, no-extension contract offer that he rejected before leaving the team. Siragusa was open about his dislike for new coach Lindy Infante and the team's Vice President of Football Operations Bill Tobin. In the 1996 season, he appeared in and started ten games and recorded two sacks, 45 combined tackles, and one fumble recovery.

Baltimore Ravens

In 1997, Siragusa signed with the Baltimore Ravens, who were being coached by his former coach Ted Marchibroda (which continued until he was fired for Brian Billick in 1999). In the 1997 season, he appeared in 14 games, started 13, and recorded one fumble recovery and 27 total tackles. In the 1998 season, he appeared in and started 15 games, and recorded one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 41 total tackles. In the 1999 season, he appeared in and started 14 games, and recorded two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 3.5 sacks, and 36 total tackles. He was a part of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense that allowed the fewest total points in NFL history for a 16-game season. In the 2000 season, he appeared in and started 15 games, and recorded one fumble recovery and 27 total tackles. Siragusa was fined $10,000 for an illegal hit on Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon in the 2000 AFC title game, injuring Gannon’s shoulder. He helped lead the Ravens to their first Super Bowl in franchise history in Super Bowl XXXV where they beat the New York Giants, 34–7. Siragusa retired following the 2001 season, where he had two sacks and 28 total tackles. He finished his career with 562 tackles (416 solo), 22 sacks, five forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries for 12 yards, and 28 pass deflections in 170 career games.

Post-playing career

Siragusa was a sideline reporter and analyst during NFL games on Fox until his firing following the 2015 NFL season. Siragusa usually appeared with Kenny Albert (before Albert, Dick Stockton and Curt Menefee) and Daryl Johnston. In 2015, he was paired with Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis. He appeared as Soprano family associate Frankie Cortese in the TV series ''The Sopranos''. He partnered up with Michael Romanelli and opened a restaurant chain called Tiff's. The original name of the franchise was Tiffany's, but after a lawsuit by Tiffany & Co., the luxury jeweler, the name was shortened. He hosted ''Man Caves'' on the DIY network. He also hosted a documentary program called ''Mega Machines'' on The Learning Channel.

Siragusa also played a Russian mobster in the 2002 movie ''25th Hour''.

Out of a concern for men with prostate cancer, in 2013 Siragusa began appearing in an ad campaign for Depend for Men, saying, "I decided to go and shoot the commercial and bring a little bit of lightness to he problemwhere guys can talk about it and after I did the commercial you wouldn't believe the response."

Siragusa made a few appearances at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh. He was one of several honorary captains during the renewal of the Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry in 2016, soon after ending his stint with Fox.

Death

On June 22, 2022, Siragusa died in his sleep at his home in Ortley Beach, New Jersey, at the age of 55.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Siragusa, Tony
1967 births
2022 deaths
American football defensive tackles
American people of Italian descent
American sportspeople of Italian descent
Baltimore Ravens players
Indianapolis Colts players
National Football League announcers
People from Kenilworth, New Jersey
Pittsburgh Panthers football players
Players of American football from New Jersey
Sportspeople from Union County, New Jersey