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Tony Siragusa, the Tremendous Bowl-winning defensive sort out and soccer tv analyst for Fox Sports activities, died on Wednesday, homeowners of the Indianapolis Colts and the Baltimore Ravens mentioned. He was 55 years outdated.
Jim Irsay, the Colts’ proprietor, confirmed Siragusa’s demise on Twitter. The reason for demise has not but been introduced.
Siragusa, nicknamed Goose, performed within the N.F.L. for 12 seasons, seven of them for the Colts, who acquired him as an undrafted free agent in 1990. He joined the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 and retired after the 2001 season, one 12 months after taking part in a key defensive function because the franchise received its first Tremendous Bowl.
“Renee and I are surprised and heartbroken to study in regards to the sudden passing of Tony Siragusa,” Steve Bisciotti, the Ravens’ proprietor, mentioned in an announcement. “He was a particular individual and clearly one of the crucial fashionable gamers in Ravens historical past. Tony’s larger-than-life persona made an unlimited impression on our group and all through the Baltimore neighborhood.”
Irsay mentioned on Twitter that Siragusa was fun-loving and “one of the crucial bodily strongest gamers I’ve seen in 50 years.”
Siragusa, recognized for his imposing heft at 330 kilos throughout his taking part in days, was a key member of the Ravens’ championship workforce within the 2000 season. Whereas that season was one in every of his worst statistically — he recorded solely 27 tackles with none sacks — he contributed to one of many N.F.L.’s most fearsome defenses, absorbing blockers to permit the star linebacker Ray Lewis, defensive again Rod Woodson, lineman Sam Adams and others to achieve their roles. That unit set N.F.L. information for the fewest factors allowed (165) and dashing yards allowed (970) in a 16-game common season.
“On the sector, he was the final word competitor who introduced out the most effective in all of us,” Lewis mentioned in an announcement.
Siragusa, who was born in New Jersey, received a wrestling state championship whereas attending Brearley Excessive College in Kenilworth, the place he additionally performed defensive position for the soccer workforce. He was additionally its punter and kicker.
He performed collegiate soccer at Pittsburgh after which signed with the Colts as a free agent, happening to start out 78 video games over seven seasons.
Throughout the A.F.C. championship sport for the 2000 season, Siragusa evaded a number of blockers early within the second quarter and narrowly missed sacking Raiders quarterback Wealthy Gannon, who had simply thrown the ball earlier than he arrived. However Siragusa hit Gannon arduous and landed together with his full physique weight on the quarterback, injuring Gannon’s left collar bone. Siragusa was later fined, however Gannon’s harm helped the Ravens win, 16-3, en path to a Tremendous Bowl victory over the Giants.
“There was nobody like Goose — a warrior on the sector and a workforce unifier with a giving, beneficiant coronary heart who helped teammates and the neighborhood greater than most individuals know,” Brian Billick, who coached the Ravens from 1998 to 2007, mentioned in an announcement. “We’d not have received the Tremendous Bowl with out him.”
Siragusa labored as a Fox Sports activities broadcaster from 2003-15. He’s survived by his spouse, Kathy, and their three youngsters: Samantha, Ava and Anthony Jr.
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