Tony Liscio facts for kids

Tony Liscio (born July 2, 1940 – died June 18, 2017) was an amazing American football player. He was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football at the University of Tulsa. Tony was known for his strength and determination on the field.

Tony Liscio's Early Life and Sports

Tony Liscio grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went to Westinghouse High School. There, he was a star in many sports!

High School Sports Achievements

• In football, he was an All-state end. This means he was one of the best players in the whole state.
• He was also the main center for the basketball team.
• Tony even threw the shot put for the track and field team.

His high school honored him by putting him on the Westinghouse High School Wall of Fame.

College Football Career

After high school, Tony went to the University of Tulsa. He played as a two-way starting tackle. This means he played both offense and defense!

• In his final year, he moved to defensive end.
• He was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team.
• He also received an honorable mention as an All-American.
• Tony was invited to play in the College All-Star Game. In this game, college stars played against the NFL champions.

In 2004, Tony was added to the University of Tulsa Athletics Hall of Fame. Later, in 2015, he joined the Second Pittsburgh City League Hall of Fame.

Tony Liscio's Professional Football Journey

Tony Liscio had a long career in professional football. He played for a few teams, but he is best known for his time with the Dallas Cowboys.

Starting with the Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers chose Tony in the third round of the 1963 NFL Draft. This was a big deal! The New York Jets also picked him in the 1963 AFL Draft. Tony decided to sign with the Packers. During training camp, he played as a defensive end and defensive tackle. However, he was released just before the season started.

Joining the Dallas Cowboys (First Time)

The Dallas Cowboys quickly picked up Tony after the Packers released him. This was a great move for the Cowboys!

• The Cowboys changed his position to offense.
• He became the starting left tackle at the end of his first year.
• Tony became a very important player on the Cowboys' offensive line for almost ten years.
• He was only the second player in Cowboys history to hold this important position.

In 1964, Tony started 10 games. But then he got a knee injury and had to stop playing for a while. He missed all of the 1965 season because of problems from his knee surgery.

Returning to Play and the "Ice Bowl"

Tony worked hard to get back on the field. In 1966, he was healthy enough to play again.

• He started as a left guard for 10 games.
• Later that season, he moved back to his usual position of left tackle.
• The next year, he played in the famous 1967 NFL Championship Game, known as the "Ice Bowl." This was a very cold and tough game!
• In 1970, he played in 11 games but had some back problems.

Even with injuries, Tony helped the Cowboys reach two NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl. He played in 89 games during his first eight seasons.

Moving to Other Teams

In May 1971, Tony was traded to the San Diego Chargers. This trade was part of a bigger deal that brought Hall of Famer Lance Alworth to the Cowboys. Tony never played a game for the Chargers because of his back and hamstring injuries.

Later, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins. But Tony decided to retire instead of playing for the Dolphins.

Coming Back to the Dallas Cowboys (Second Time)

In November 1971, something amazing happened! The Cowboys' coach, Tom Landry, called Tony. He asked Tony to come back and play because other players were injured.

• Tony reported to the team just two days before a game against the Washington Redskins.
• He started at left tackle even though he had shoulder and knee injuries.
• Tony and the Cowboys won that game 13-0! This win helped them become leaders in their division.

Tony played in Super Bowl VI with the Cowboys. They defeated the Miami Dolphins 24-3. In that game, Tony successfully blocked a strong player named Bill Stanfill. This helped the Cowboys' running backs gain a lot of yards. Tony retired after this Super Bowl victory. He was even considered for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Tony Liscio's Life After Football

After his football career, Tony Liscio worked in commercial real estate. In 2012, he had a heart attack while visiting the Dallas Cowboys training camp.

Tony Liscio passed away on June 18, 2017, at the age of 76. He had been diagnosed with a condition called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His wife, Annette, believed that playing football might have contributed to his condition. After he passed away, she donated his brain for research to help understand more about brain injuries in athletes. Tony was married to Annette since 1963, and they had three children.