Anthony Muñoz

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 opted to retire.

Early life

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.

Professional career

Muñoz was selected with 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. 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.

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, 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.

Muñoz appeared in two motion pictures: 1980's Borderline as "Guatemalan" and 1983's The Right Stuff (that year's Academy Award winner for Best Picture) as "Gonzalez".

From 1994 to 1995, Muñoz served as a color commentator on Fox Sports' NFL telecasts.

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. 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".

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 Profile at USC Legends