Tony Banks (American football) facts for kids
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | April 5, 1973 San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 229 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Hoover (San Diego) | ||||||||||||
| College: | San Diego Mesa (1992–1993) Michigan State (1994–1995) |
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| NFL Draft: | 1996 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42 | ||||||||||||
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Anthony Lamar Banks (born April 5, 1973) is a former American football player. He played as a quarterback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Tony Banks played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
He was picked by the St. Louis Rams in the 1996 NFL draft. Banks also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans. With the Ravens, he helped the team win their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV.
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Early Life and High School
Tony Banks grew up in San Diego, California. He went to Hoover High School. While there, he was a talented athlete. He played football, basketball, and baseball for his school.
College Football Career
Before playing college football, Tony Banks played baseball. He was a right fielder for a minor league team. This team was part of the Minnesota Twins organization.
After baseball, he went to San Diego Mesa College for two years. Then, he transferred to Michigan State University. At Michigan State, Banks became a top quarterback. He is still one of the best passers in the school's history. He ranks high in passing yards and touchdowns. Banks was the first quarterback chosen in the 1996 NFL draft.
Professional Football Journey
Tony Banks was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 1996. He was the very first quarterback picked that year.
Playing for the St. Louis Rams
Banks became the starting quarterback for the Rams as a rookie. He threw for many yards and touchdowns. However, he also fumbled the ball a lot in his first season. The Rams did not win many games during his time there. After three seasons, the Rams traded Banks to the Baltimore Ravens.
Time with the Baltimore Ravens
Tony Banks had some of his best games with the Baltimore Ravens. In 1999, he threw a career-high 17 touchdowns. He also had over 2,000 passing yards.
In 2000, Banks played well early on. But he had some fumbles and interceptions. The team decided to make Trent Dilfer the starting quarterback. Dilfer then led the Ravens to win Super Bowl XXXV. Banks was released by the Ravens after that season.
Short Stays with Other Teams
After the Ravens, Banks signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001. However, he was released before the season even started.
Later that year, he joined the Washington Redskins. With the Redskins, he helped the team turn around a tough start. They won five games in a row after losing their first five. He was released after that season.
Years with the Houston Texans
Tony Banks then signed with the Houston Texans. He was the backup quarterback behind David Carr. Banks played very little during his four years with the Texans. He was released by the Texans in 2006. After that, he did not play in the NFL again.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Tony Banks became a football coach. On March 9, 2020, he was hired as the head football coach for Greenhill School. This is a private school located in Addison, Texas. He had worked there before as an assistant coach.
