Tony Curcillo facts for kids
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| Born: | May 27, 1931 Long Branch, New Jersey |
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| Died: | December 8, 2020 (aged 89) Riverside, California |
| Career information | |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | QB/LB/DB/HB/C |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| College | Ohio State |
| NFL draft | 1953 / Round: 6 / Pick: 63 |
| Drafted by | Chicago Cardinals |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1953, 1956 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1956–1958 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| CFL East All-Star | 1957, 1958 |
Anthony Curcillo Jr. (born May 27, 1931 – died December 8, 2020) was a talented American football player. He played in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Tony Curcillo even won a Grey Cup championship during his career.
College Football Star
Tony Curcillo was the main quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes team. He led the team in both 1950 and 1951. In 1952, he also played other positions like linebacker, tailback, and center.
He was the very first starting quarterback for famous coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State. This happened when Coach Hayes joined the team in 1951. Curcillo played alongside Vic Janowicz, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1950. They were also teammates in high school at Elyria High School.
Playing Pro Football
The Chicago Cardinals picked Tony Curcillo in the 6th round of the 1953 NFL Draft. He started his professional career in 1953. In his first year, he played as a defensive back and halfback.
After college, Tony joined the military. He played quarterback for his base football team in 1954 and 1955. He even played in a special game called the Service Bowl.
Joining the CFL
In 1956, Curcillo returned to the Chicago Cardinals. Later that season, he moved to Canada to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This team was part of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, which later became the CFL.
On November 17, 1956, Tony Curcillo had an amazing playoff game. He threw for 518 yards against the Montreal Alouettes. This is still a record for passing yards in a CFL playoff game!
When Bernie Faloney joined the Tiger-Cats in 1957, Curcillo became a star linebacker. He also continued to be the team's backup quarterback. He was named a CFL East All-Star in both 1957 and 1958.
Later Life
In 1973, Tony Curcillo was honored for his sports achievements. He was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame. He passed away in 2020 due to health complications during the COVID-19 pandemic.
