Sisto Averno facts for kids
Averno on a 1953 Bowman football card
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| Position: | Guard, Linebacker |
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| Personal information | |
| Born: | May 25, 1925 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died: | March 26, 2012 (aged 86) Randallstown, Maryland, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight: | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Paterson (NJ) |
| College: | Muhlenberg |
| NFL Draft: | 1951 / Round: 30 / Pick: 362 Veteran player redrafted after termination of Baltimore franchise. |
| Career history | |
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| Player stats at PFR | |
Sisto Joseph "Joe" Averno (born May 12, 1925 – died March 26, 2012) was an American football player. He played as a guard and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Joe played for several teams during his career. These included the original Baltimore Colts in 1950. He also played for the New York Yanks in 1951. Later, he joined the Dallas Texans in 1952. Finally, he played for the second Baltimore Colts team from 1953 to 1954.
Joe Averno is also a special member of the Muhlenberg College Athletic Hall of Fame. This honor celebrates his great achievements in college sports.
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Joe Averno's Football Journey
Early Life and High School Football
Joe Averno was born on May 12, 1925, in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Averno.
He went to Central High School in Paterson. There, he was a star football player. He earned three letters playing as a tackle for the school's team, the Colts. In his senior year, 1942, he was recognized as one of the best players in New Jersey.
Serving in World War II
During World War II, Joe Averno joined the United States Navy. He enlisted in April 1943 and served for three years. He trained at a special school in Pontiac, Michigan. There, he became a gunner's mate.
Joe was stationed in California and trained for battles in the Pacific Ocean. He even played football for a military team, the 1944 Fleet City Bluejackets football team. During his time at sea, he earned several medals for his service.
College Football Career
In 1946, after his military service, Joe Averno went to Muhlenberg College. This is a small college in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He played football for the Muhlenberg Mules for four years. He played as both a tackle and a guard. His coach, Howard Baughman, praised his skills.
Averno and his team played in the 1946 Tobacco Bowl game in Lexington, Kentucky. Joe started as a left tackle. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds. He later said that winning this game 28-25 was one of his most exciting college football memories.
Joe faced some injuries during his college years. He had a knee injury in 1946 and a leg injury in 1948. These injuries sometimes required him to go to the hospital. He even had surgery to fix torn cartilage in his knee.
Professional Football Journey
In 1950, Joe Averno joined the Baltimore Colts. He was not chosen in the draft but signed as a free agent. This first Colts team had money problems. So, after the 1950 season, its players were put back into the 1951 NFL Draft. Joe Averno was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the very last round of the 1951 draft. He quickly signed a contract with them.
Joe played one exhibition game for the Browns. Then, he was traded to the New York Yanks. Even his short time with the Browns was important. He learned a lot from their coach, Paul Brown. Joe thought he was the best coach he had ever worked with. He liked how Coach Brown kept track of each player's performance.
Averno played a lot for the Yanks in the 1951 season. He played in all 12 games, often as a backup or on special teams. This team also had financial troubles. After the season, its players and assets were sold to a new group in Dallas.
The new team was called the Dallas Texans. Joe signed a contract with them for the 1952 season. He played as a middle guard, which is like a nose tackle in a five-man defense. He started 11 of the team's 12 games in this position. The Texans also faced money problems. After their season, their assets were sold to new owners in Baltimore.
Joe Averno moved with the team to the new Baltimore Colts. He signed with them in March for the 1953 season. Joe started as a defensive middle guard in all 12 games of their first season. The Colts finished the year with 3 wins and 9 losses. This was better than many people expected. They even beat their rivals, the Washington Redskins.
The 1954 season was Joe Averno's last. He signed his contract for his fifth NFL year in April. However, small injuries started to bother him. He had a calf strain that got worse. On October 15, after only three games, the Colts released him. Joe Averno's professional football career ended at age 29.
During his five years in the NFL, Joe Averno never made more than $9,500 in a season. This would be about $107,000 in today's money. He started as a rookie in 1950 with $4,000. He understood that linemen usually earned less than players who carried the ball. He said that linemen did most of the hard work but had to accept less pay.
With only 33 players on the team, Joe had to play a lot. He often played many minutes in all parts of the game. This included playing on the offensive line, as a defender, and on special teams. This took a toll on his body. Coaches were not always understanding. Joe remembered one time he separated his shoulder. His coach told him to block with his other shoulder.
Life After Football
Joe Averno married Margaret Meredith from Baltimore in late 1950. When he was not playing football, Joe worked as a car salesman in Baltimore.
Later in his life, Joe faced several health issues. He had a stroke and needed new knees and a hip. He also used a walker to move around. These problems were likely caused by the injuries he got while playing football. Because of his health, Joe became a supporter for better benefits for retired NFL players.
Legacy and Passing
Joe Averno passed away on March 26, 2012, in Randallstown, Maryland. He was 86 years old.
In 1953, near the end of his career, Joe told a reporter from the Baltimore Sun: "Pro football is tough, but I love it. Playing in Baltimore is great because it's like a college town. Fans cheer for you no matter what. I enjoy the teamwork and the thrill of tackling and blocking. All of that makes up for the hard training we do every year. The training is the hardest part of pro football, but the game itself is amazing."
Joe Averno's impressive college football career led to him being honored. He was inducted into the Muhlenberg College Athletic Hall of Fame.
