Former Pitt, NFL defensive lineman Tony Siragusa dies at age 55
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Tony Siragusa, a free-spirited Pitt defensive lineman who went on to play 12 NFL seasons before launching a career as an NFL sideline analyst for Fox Sports, died Wednesday at age 55.
Siragusa’s broadcast agent, Jim Ornstein, confirmed the death Wednesday. The cause of death was not immediately available.
“This is a really sad day,” he said. “Tony was way more than my client, he was family. My heart goes out to Tony’s loved ones.”
The Goose. Always bigger than life on and off the field. Forever a Pitt Man and never forgotten. pic.twitter.com/1J1P2YBcbd
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) June 22, 2022
“The Goose” played seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and five with the Ravens, winning Super Bowl XXXV with Baltimore. He retired after the 2001 season and later was a part of Fox Sport’s TV team from 2003-15. He also had a recurring role on HBO’s “The Sopranos” and served as host for shows on the Discovery Channel and DIY Network.
We lost a great one today and I’m truly devastated. Goose was the best. He made the most out of every moment, made sure everyone around him always had a smile on their face, and had a heart of gold. The Siragusa family is in our prayers. Rest In Peace, brother. pic.twitter.com/dVEfRRwSWV
— Dan Marino (@DanMarino) June 22, 2022
He finished his NFL career with 404 tackles, 22 sacks and five forced fumbles.
Siragusa, a native of Kenilworth, N.J., played at Pitt from 1985-1989 and started at defensive tackle as a sophomore and junior under coach Mike Gottfried. He recorded 78 tackles and seven sacks as a sophomore in 1986. That season, he recorded 17 tackles in a victory against Rutgers.
An ACL injury forced him to sit out the 1988 season, but he returned in ’89 and collected 60 tackles, 13 TFLs and 5 1/2 sacks while Pitt finished 8-3-1, its best record in six years.
Siragusa was not chosen in the 1990 NFL Draft, but his 12-year pro career makes him Pitt’s most celebrated undrafted football player.
Known throughout his college and pro careers as a free spirit, he kept a boa constrictor as a pet during his time at Pitt.
In 2001, before helping the Ravens defeat the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, Fla., Siragusa told the Tribune-Review he decided to go to Pitt because of the “honesty” its coaches showed him on his recruiting visit.
“I went to a lot of schools,” said Siragusa, who was a state wrestling champion in high school. “But they didn’t try to blow smoke up my butt or tell me I was going to be a star. (Pitt) said I had to work for everything. I liked the people who were there. I liked the city of Pittsburgh.”
He also was impressed by the togetherness players exhibited for each other. During his visit, a brawl broke out at a local restaurant and some football players jumped in to support their teammates.
“I liked the camaraderie,” Siragusa told The Trib. “If you fight one of us, you’re going to fight us all. Sort of like back home.”
He once famously said, “If I wanted to learn a school song, I would’ve gone to Notre Dame or Penn State. I want to kill people on the football field. That’s why I came to Pitt.”
Sam Clancy, now director of Pitt’s Varsity Letter Club, was a teammate of Siragusa’s on the Colts for three seasons.
“He would give you the shirt off his back,” Clancy said, shortly after receiving word of his friend’s death.
Clancy said he ate Christmas dinner three years in a row with Siragusa and his family because his wife and children were home in Cleveland.
“Seven fishes and 100 different kinds of pasta,” Clancy said. “I love the man because the invite was there every year. Not only me, but other players whose families couldn’t come down.”
Current Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi weighed in on Twitter:
“Tony truly was bigger than life, on and off the field. He played the game passionately and relentlessly. Despite not being drafted, he thrived in the NFL for 12 years. His post-football life took him so many places but he never forgot Pitt. We could always count on him to send the best recorded pep talks to our guys before our biggest games.
The Tony Siragusa pump up speech highlight video will never be touched. Still sends shivers down my spine. RIP the Goose!
— Karlo Zovko (@Kzovko) June 22, 2022
“The Goose leaves a great legacy and he will be sorely missed. Our sympathies to his family, many loved ones and former teammates.”
The news of Siragusa’s death came on what was already a tragic day for the Ravens. The death of Jaylon Ferguson, a linebacker for Baltimore, at age 26 was announced earlier in the day.
RIP Tony Siragusa, 1967-2022.
Proud Pitt Man.
Super Bowl Champion.
"The Goose," Forever. pic.twitter.com/lgXAVqB9Oe— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) June 22, 2022
He had one of the best pre game speeches as a honorary captain before the 2016 Pitt / Penn State game. A true Pitt legend. https://t.co/ULwBoqDD1d
— Matt Galambos (@Galambos47) June 22, 2022