Anthony Muñoz
 Anthony Muñoz talks with the local San Antonio, Texas media to promote the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2004. | |||||||||
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| Position: | Offensive Tackle | ||||||||
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| Born: | August 19, 1958 San Fransisco, California | ||||||||
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| College: | Southern California | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1980 / round: 1 / pick: 3 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Michael Anthony Muñoz (born August 19, 1958), is a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle who played most of his career for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. After missing much of the 1992 season battling knee and shoulder injuries, Muñoz attempted to play a 14th season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was released before the season started and decided to retire shortly after. Muñoz is considered by many to be the greatest offensive lineman in National Football League history.
Early life and college career
Anthony Muñoz went to Chaffey High School. i played college football at the University of Southern California. He also played baseball there, pitching for USC’s national championship team in 1978.[1]
NFL career
Muñoz was the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Muñoz's agent was Michael Trope, known as Mike during his days as an NFL agent. His selection was viewed as a major risk by many pundits since knee problems limited the 6 ft. 6 in., 280-pound Muñoz to just a combined eight games in his junior and senior seasons, though he did return for USC's 17-16 Rose Bowl win over The Ohio State University on New Year's Day 1980. However, Muñoz became a starter in his rookie season and remained a fixture at left tackle for the Bengals for 13 seasons and is considered one of, if not the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history. Despite his history of injuries, Muñoz missed just three games during his first 12 seasons. His rigorous workout routine included working out in the weight room he had installed in his home and running three to four miles every day.[2] In addition to his talents as a blocker, Anthony Muñoz was also a capable receiver, notching 7 receptions for 18 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns on tackle-eligible plays, including one in 1984 from left-handed rookie quarterback Boomer Esiason against their upstate rival, the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland.
Anthony Muñoz played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, both narrow losses to the San Francisco 49ers.
Muñoz was the Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1981, 1987, and 1988 was awarded the NFL Players Association Lineman of the Year honors in 1981, 1985, 1988, and 1989.[3] The NFL Alumni Association voted Munoz the Offensive Lineman of the Year four times (1987, 1989–1991).[4] At the time of his retirement, his Pro Bowl selections were tied with Tom Mack for the most ever by an offensive lineman in league history, and also set the Bengals franchise record as well. In 1994, Muñoz was named to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. In 1999, he was ranked #17 on Sporting News' list of the 100 greatest football players and was the highest-ranked offensive lineman.[5] In 2010, was ranked #12 on the NFL Network's The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players list and again was the highest-ranked offensive lineman.
Movies and television
Muñoz appeared in two motion pictures: 1980's Borderline as "Guatemalan" and 1983's The Right Stuff (an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture) as "Gonzalez".[6]
From 1994 to 1995, Muñoz served as a color commentator on Fox Sports' NFL telecasts and has for many years been color commentator for TV broadcasts of Bengals' preseason games.
Honors and later activities
In 1998, Anthony Muñoz was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first Cincinnati Bengals player to be enshrined. Shortly after receiving the honor, Muñoz's hometown of Ontario, California renamed its Colony Park "Anthony Muñoz Hall of Fame Park". The renaming ceremony was held on June 26, 1998, and was attended by Muñoz, his family, city officials, and Ontario residents.[7] The park, incidentally, is the place where Muñoz met his wife DeDe after a pickup softball game during his youth.
In 2002, the Anthony Muñoz Foundation was created to consolidate Muñoz's charitable activities and encourages area individuals and businesses to "...impact area youth mentally, physically and spiritually".[8]
In 2004, Muñoz served on a panel to select the year's recipient of the Walter Payton Award.
On November 14, 2012, Allstate dedicated a Hometown Hall of Famers plaque to Muñoz at Chaffey High School.[9]
Personal life
Muñoz is married to DeDe, whom he met at USC. They have two children. Son Michael Muñoz followed Anthony by playing offensive lineman at Tennessee where he was an All-American and went undrafted. He starred at Moeller High School in Cincinnati. Daughter Michelle played basketball for legendary coach Pat Summitt for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and later played at Ohio State. She led her William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio team to the Division I 1999-2000 state championship, and she was named Ms. Basketball in Ohio in her senior year of 2000-2001.
References
External links
- The Anthony Muñoz Foundation
- Anthony Muñoz at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Template:Pro-football-reference
- Anthony Muñoz Profile at USC Legends
Template:1988 All-Pro Team Template:1990 All-Pro Team Template:1991 All-Pro Team
- 1958 births
- Living people
- People from Ontario, California
- People from the Inland Empire (California)
- American football offensive tackles
- Cincinnati Bengals players
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- USC Trojans football players
- University of Southern California alumni
- National Football League announcers
- Parade High School All-Americans (football)
- American people of Mexican descent
- American sportspeople of Mexican descent
- College football announcers