Anthony Muñoz facts for kids
Muñoz in 2015
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| No. 78 | |||||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||
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| Born: | August 19, 1958 Ontario, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 278 lb (126 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Chaffey (Ontario) | ||||||
| College: | USC (1976–1979) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1980 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3 | ||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Anthony Muñoz is a famous American former football player. He was an offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. Many people, including an ESPN panel in 2022, consider him the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
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Early Life and College Football
Anthony Muñoz grew up in Ontario, California, and went to Chaffey High School. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC) from 1976 to 1979. He was also a pitcher for USC's baseball team, which won a national championship in 1978.
College Football Success
Muñoz's USC football team won a bowl game in each of his four seasons. This included three wins in the famous Rose Bowl. However, injuries kept him from playing in the Rose Bowl games during his freshman and junior years.
Overcoming Injuries
In his senior year, Muñoz tore ligaments in his knee during the first game. This injury made him miss most of the regular season. But he worked hard to return for the 1980 Rose Bowl on New Year's Day 1980. USC won that game 17–16 against the undefeated Ohio State University.
Muñoz could have taken a year off to recover or focused on the NFL draft. But he really wanted to play with his teammates in the Rose Bowl. He said he couldn't imagine missing that experience. In that game, USC running back Charles White ran for a record 247 yards. Many of his big runs, including the game-winning touchdown drive, happened behind Muñoz. USC coach John Robinson called it "one of the greatest things I've ever seen happen."
Professional Football Career
Anthony Muñoz was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals as the third overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft. Many experts thought this was a risky choice. His knee problems had limited him to only 16 games in his last two college seasons.
Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
Despite injury concerns, Muñoz became a starter in his first year with the Bengals. He played as the left tackle for 13 seasons. He is known as one of the best offensive linemen ever in the NFL. Even with his past injuries, Muñoz missed only three games in his first 12 seasons. He stayed in great shape by working out daily in his home gym and running several miles.
Muñoz was not just a great blocker. He could also catch the ball! He had seven catches for 18 yards and scored four touchdowns. These touchdowns came from special plays where he was allowed to be a receiver. One famous touchdown was in 1984 from rookie quarterback Boomer Esiason.
During his time with the Bengals, Muñoz played in two Super Bowls: Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. Both games were very close losses to the San Francisco 49ers.
Time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Retirement
After battling knee and shoulder injuries in 1992, Muñoz tried to play one more season. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, he was released before the season began and decided to retire from football.
Anthony Muñoz's Legacy
Muñoz received many awards during and after his career. He was named Offensive Lineman of the Year multiple times by different groups. When he retired, his 11 Pro Bowl selections tied the record for an offensive lineman. He also set a new record for the Bengals team.
In 1994, Muñoz was named to the National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. This team honored the best players from the NFL's first 75 years. In 1999, Sporting News ranked him #17 on their list of the 100 greatest football players. He was the highest-ranked offensive lineman on that list. In 2010, the NFL Network ranked him #12 on their list of the NFL's Greatest Players, again as the highest-ranked offensive lineman.
In 1998, Anthony Muñoz was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first player who played only for the Cincinnati Bengals to receive this honor. His hometown of Ontario, California, even renamed a park "Anthony Muñoz Hall of Fame Park" to celebrate him.
In 2021, Muñoz was part of the first group of players added to the Bengals' Ring of Honor. The Bengals have not given his jersey number 78 to any other player since he left the team.
Movies and Television Appearances
Anthony Muñoz also appeared in two movies. He was in Borderline in 1980 and The Right Stuff in 1983. The Right Stuff was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.
From 1994 to 1995, Muñoz worked as a color commentator for Fox Sports' NFL games. He has also been a commentator for Bengals' preseason games for many years.
Life After the NFL
Since 1992, Muñoz has appeared in commercials for a furniture store in the Cincinnati area called Furniture Fair.
In 2002, he started the Anthony Muñoz Foundation. This foundation helps young people in the area grow "mentally, physically and spiritually." In 2012, Allstate honored Muñoz with a Hometown Hall of Famers plaque at his old high school, Chaffey High. In 2015, he received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Medallion of Excellence for his work with the Hispanic community.
Muñoz also played in a celebrity flag-football game at Candlestick Park in 2014. This was the last event before the stadium was torn down. He enjoyed seeing famous players like Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott there.
Personal Life
Anthony Muñoz is of Mexican–American heritage. His family comes from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. He met his wife at USC and they got married in 1978. They have two children.
His son, Michael, also played offensive lineman in college at Tennessee. His daughter, Michelle, played basketball at Tennessee and later at Ohio State.
Muñoz is a Christian. He has said that his faith is the most important thing in his life, from his college days to his NFL career and now in retirement.
