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Anthony Muñoz

Muñoz talks with the local San Antonio, Texas media to promote the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2004.
Position(s) Offensive Tackle Jersey #(s) 78
Born	August 19, 1958 (1958-08-19) (age 51) Ontario, California
Career information
Year(s)	1980–1993
NFL Draft	1980 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3
College	USC
Professional teams
Cincinnati Bengals (1980-1992) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993)* *Offseason member only
Career stats
Games played	185
Games started	182
Fumble recoveries	6
Stats at NFL.com
Career highlights and awards
11× Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991) 9× AP First-team All-Pro selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 1990) 2× AP Second-team All-Pro selection (1984, 1991) NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
Pro Football Hall of Fame

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 was released before the season and he chose to retire.

Early life & College Career

The Ontario, California-born Muñoz attended Chaffey High School and played basketball and baseball in addition to football. As a youth, he was barred from the local Pop Warner league team because he was too big; he concentrated on baseball instead. Muñoz 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 National Football League draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. His selection was viewed as a major risk by many pundits since knee problems limited the 6'-6", 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 Ohio State 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 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 1985 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 an 11-time (all consecutive) Pro Bowl selection, 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 the most ever by an offensive lineman in league history. 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]

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.

Honors & 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. He currently resides in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason.

References

External links

• The Anthony Muñoz Foundation
• Anthony Muñoz at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Anthony Muñoz at Pro-Football-Reference.com
• Anthony Muñoz Profile at USC Legends