Andy Robustelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andy Robustelli

No. 84, 81
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1925-12-06)December 6, 1925 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died:	May 31, 2011(2011-05-31) (aged 85) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:	Stamford (Stamford, Connecticut) La Salle Military Academy (Oakdale, New York)
College:	Arnold
NFL Draft:	1951 / Round: 19 / Pick: 228
Career history
Los Angeles Rams (1951–1955) New York Giants (1956–1964)
Career highlights and awards
2× NFL champion (1951, 1956) 6× First-team All-Pro (1953, 1955, 1956, 1958–1960) 4× Second-team All-Pro (1952, 1954, 1957, 1962) 7× Pro Bowl (1953, 1955–1957, 1959–1961) Bert Bell Award (1962) New York Giants Ring of Honor Third-team Little All-American (1949)
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions: 2 Fumble recoveries: 22 Touchdowns: 2
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Andrew Richard Robustelli (born December 6, 1925 – died May 31, 2011) was an American professional football player. He was a talented defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants. Andy Robustelli played college football at Arnold College. He was chosen in the 1951 NFL draft. Robustelli was picked as a first-team All-Pro player six times. He was honored by being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

Early Life

Andy Robustelli was born on December 6, 1925. His hometown was Stamford, Connecticut. His parents were Lucien and Catherine Robustelli. Andy went to Stamford High School. There, he was great at both football and baseball.

When he was 18, Andy joined the United States Navy. He served during World War II on a ship called the USS William C. Cole. This ship was in the Pacific Ocean. After the war, he went to Arnold College in Milford, Connecticut. He continued to play both football and baseball there.

Football Career

Playing Days

Andy Robustelli played both offense and defense in college. The Los Angeles Rams picked him in the 1951 NFL draft. Many people thought he might not make the team. But the Rams were very impressed by his strong will and toughness. He became a key defensive end for them. He was even named an All-Pro player in 1953 and 1955. He played for the Rams until 1956. Then, he was traded to the New York Giants.

Robustelli played nine seasons with the Giants. During his time, the team won six conference titles. They also won one NFL championship. He was a starting player on the Giants' defense from 1956 until he retired. His last season was in 1964.

In his first year with the Giants, the team won the NFL championship. They also won their division titles several times. These were in 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, and 1963. They played in the NFL championship game each of those years.

With the Giants, Robustelli was an All-Pro player in 1956, and from 1958 to 1960. In 1962, he won the Bert Bell Award. This award goes to the best player in the NFL. It was rare for a defensive player to win it. He played in 174 NFL games, missing only one in his whole career. He recovered 22 fumbles, which was an NFL record when he retired. He also intercepted two passes, and returned both for touchdowns.

Andy Robustelli was not very big for a defensive end. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 230 pounds. But he was very smart, fast, and strong. He was known for being great at rushing the passer. He also holds a special record. He is the only football player to play in the first two NFL games ever shown on national television.

After Playing: An Administrator

After retiring as a player, Robustelli returned to the Giants. He became their director of operations in 1973. This meant he was in charge of many of the team's daily football decisions. He helped lead the team during a time of change. The Giants moved into their new home, Giants Stadium, in 1976.

Robustelli left his role as director of operations in 1978. He had decided a year earlier that it would be his last season.

Life After Football

After he stopped playing, Andy Robustelli worked as a TV commentator for one year. He talked about American Football League games for NBC. In the same year, 1965, he bought a travel company. He renamed it Robustelli Travel Services, Inc. This company grew and was later sold in 2006.

He also started other businesses. One was National Professional Athletes (NPA). This company helped arrange for sports stars to appear at events. Another business was International Equities, which later became Robustelli Corporate Services.

Awards and Recognition

Andy Robustelli is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is also in the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year.

Personal Life

Andy Robustelli's grandson, Andrew Robustelli, also played college football. He played for Jacksonville University. He even tried out for the New York Giants in 2015. Another family member, Dan Sileo, is Andy's great-nephew. Dan also played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys.

Death

Andy Robustelli passed away on May 31, 2011. He died due to problems after a surgery.