Former pro football lineman, NFL sideline analyst Tony Siragusa dead at 55

Tony Siragusa, a colorful defensive tackle for 12 seasons in the NFL who later became a sideline analyst for Fox NFL, has died, according to several reports. He was 55.

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A Ravens team spokesperson confirmed Siragusa’s death to The Baltimore Sun.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

Siragusa’s death was also confirmed by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who said in a tweet that he was “heartbroken as is all of Colts Nation.”

“The Goose squeezed 200 fun-loving years into 55!!” Irsay tweeted. “He was one of the most physically strongest players I have ever seen in 50 years In Greece, they would ask one question at the end of one’s life; did he have passion? In Tony’s case: Yes, he did!!”

Siragusa was born May 14, 1967, in Kenilworth, New Jersey. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1990.

Siragusa’s former Ravens teammate, Jamal Lewis, also confirmed the news to TMZ.

“It’s a sad day to be a Raven I must say,” Lewis said.

Siragusa, known affectionately as “Goose,” played 12 seasons as a defensive tackle in the NFL, Sports Illustrated reported. He joined the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1990 and spent his final five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.

In 169 games, Siragusa had 564 tackles and 22 sacks with a career-high 88 tackles and five sacks with the Colts in 1994.

Siragusa, at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, came to Baltimore as an unrestricted free agent in 1997, ESPN reported. He was an instant fan favorite in Baltimore and was often favorable compared to another Baltimore lineman, Art Donovan, for his humor and legendary eating habits.

Siragusa was a member of the Ravens’ squad that won Super Bowl XXXV after the 2000 season in Tampa, Florida.

It is the second death involving a past or current Ravens player. Jaylon Ferguson, an outside linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, died at a Maryland home.

Siragusa was a star during the first season of the HBO documentary series “Hard Knocks,” The Sun reported. Siragusa wore shirts that said “Big Daddy” across his chest and wisecracked about how he would torture rookies.

His affable personality led him to a 13-year stint as a pregame and sideline analyst for Fox’s NFL coverage from 2003 until 2015, according to the newspaper.


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