Tony Guillory facts for kids

Anthony "Tony" Guillory (born November 10, 1942 – died July 27, 2021) was an American football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). A linebacker is a player who defends against both running and passing plays. Tony played professional football from 1965 to 1969.

Tony Guillory: A Football Pioneer

Tony Guillory was a talented athlete. He is remembered for his skills on the field. He also made history off the field.

From High School to College Star

Tony Guillory grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He went to Hebert High School there. After high school, Tony played college football. He first played at the University of Nebraska.

In 1962, Tony made a big move. He transferred to Lamar State College of Technology. This school is now known as Lamar University. When he joined Lamar, Tony became the very first Black athlete to play for the college. This was a very important moment in sports history.

Playing in the NFL

After college, Tony Guillory became a professional football player. He was drafted into the NFL in 1965. He played for two different teams during his career.

His teams included:

• The Los Angeles Rams (1965, 1967–1968)
• The Philadelphia Eagles (1969)

Tony played in 53 games during his time in the NFL. He started in 23 of those games.

Honored in His Hometown

In 1971, Tony Guillory received a special honor. He was one of 16 professional football players from Beaumont. All of them were given the "keys to the city" of Beaumont. This was a way for the city to show how proud they were of their local sports heroes.

Tony Guillory passed away on July 27, 2021. He was 78 years old. He died in Beaumont, Texas.