Tony Wyllie facts for kids

Tony Wyllie, born on December 31, 1967, is a very successful leader in sports and public relations. He is currently the CEO of The Collective Engine. Before this, he was the regional president and managing director for Special Olympics North America.

Tony Wyllie has worked for many teams in the National Football League (NFL). He was a senior vice president of communications for the Washington Redskins. He also worked as an executive for the St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans. He has won the Pete Rozelle Award five times for his excellent public relations work. This award is given by the Pro Football Writers of America. Tony is the only executive to win this award for his work with three different teams!

Early Life and School Days

Tony Wyllie was born in Brooklyn, New York. When he was a child, his family moved to Houston, Texas. He went to Cy-Fair High School near Houston.

After high school, Tony studied journalism at Texas Southern University. Later, he earned a special business degree (an MBA) from Rice University.

Tony Wyllie's Career Journey

Starting Out in Sports

Tony Wyllie began his career in sports while he was still in college. In 1991, he became an intern for the Houston Oilers football team. His job involved working with sports journalists in the press box.

In 1992, he interned with the San Diego Chargers. Then, in 1993, he worked as a public relations intern for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVIII that year, and Tony even received a Super Bowl ring! Besides football, Tony also interned for the Houston Astros baseball team from 1991 to 1992. He also wrote for news organizations like the Associated Press and the Houston Chronicle.

Working with the Rams

In 1994, Tony Wyllie joined the Los Angeles Rams as the assistant director of public relations. He stayed with the team when they moved to St. Louis in 1995 and became the St. Louis Rams. Tony was the main spokesperson for the team during this big move. He handled all the questions from the media about the team changing cities.

During his time with the Rams, the team sometimes struggled. Tony's job was to deal with negative news and find positive stories to share. In 1997, he won his first Pete Rozelle Award for having the best public relations team in the NFL. The NFL also chose him to help with public relations for the 1996 and 1997 NFC Championship games. He worked with the Rams until 1998.

Time with the Titans

In 1998, Tony Wyllie became the youngest public relations director in the NFL. He joined the Tennessee Oilers. In 2000, after the team changed its name to the Titans, he won his second Pete Rozelle Award. The NFL also picked him to handle public relations for the 1999 Pro Bowl. Tony stayed with the Titans until 2000. During his time there, the Titans made it to the Super Bowl but lost to his old team, the Rams.

Building the Houston Texans

In 2000, Tony Wyllie moved to the Houston Texans. He became the Vice President of Communications for this brand-new team. The Texans did not play their first game until 2002. For two years, Tony worked on exciting projects like revealing the team's logo and building the organization.

The Texans' owner, Bob McNair, praised Tony's work. He said Tony set up many interviews to promote the Texans and the city of Houston. Tony won the Pete Rozelle Award three more times while with the Texans: in 2004, 2007, and 2010. This made him the only executive in NFL history to win the award for his work on three different teams. Tony also taught at Texas Southern University during this time.

Leading Communications for the Redskins

In May 2010, Tony Wyllie became a Senior Vice President for the Washington Redskins. He was in charge of all their communications. Tony encouraged the team's owner, Daniel Snyder, to be more involved with the public and the community. This helped improve the team's image with fans.

Tony also worked directly with young stars like Robert Griffin III and veteran players. He helped them manage their public image. ESPN sports analyst Stephen A. Smith called Tony "one of the best in the business" when it comes to NFL public relations. Tony left the team in 2019, after being their longest-serving public relations person.

Super Bowl Experiences

Throughout his career, Tony Wyllie has been part of the NFL's public relations team for eight different Super Bowls. For example, during Super Bowl XL, he helped players from both teams arrange and complete national interviews.

Working with Special Olympics

In 2019, Tony Wyllie left the Washington team to become the regional president and managing director of Special Olympics North America. The owner of the Redskins, Dan Snyder, said he was very proud of Tony's new role. Tony is also the founder and CEO of The Collective Engine.

Community Involvement

Tony Wyllie has served on the boards of several organizations. These include the Ensemble Theatre in Houston, the March of Dimes, and the John P. McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science. He also served on the board for the Houston Texans YMCA and the Touchdown Club of Houston.

Personal Life and Achievements

Tony Wyllie is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities. He is married to Natasha, and they have two children, James Anthony and Toni Simone.

In 2004, Tony received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Southern University. In 2013, he gave the Winter Commencement speech at his alma mater, Texas Southern University. In 2017, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the school and was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2020, Tony Wyllie was chosen by Isaac Bruce to present him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.