Joe Pellegrini

Joseph Anthony Pellegrini (born April 8, 1957) is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons for the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons.

Joe Pellegrini
No. 62, 64
Position:Guard/Center
Personal information
Born: (1957-04-08) April 8, 1957
Boston, Massachusetts
Career information
High school:Archbishop Williams
(Braintree, Massachusetts)
College:Harvard
Undrafted:1982
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:53
Games started:15
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Pellegrini hails from Hingham, Massachusetts.[1] He attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts, participating in football and track and field throwing events, though he admits he was not a great athlete.[2] Pellegrini graduated as valedictorian and enrolled at Harvard University.[2]

At Harvard, Pellegrini played for the Crimson football team while also doing track and field.[3] He skipped his senior season in an attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics as a discus thrower, training in West Germany, although he was ultimately unable to compete due to the boycott.[1] Pellegrini tried returning to the football team in 1981, but was not invited to training camp by head coach Joe Restic.[3] He instead earned his degree in geology.[1]

In 1981, Pellegrini signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets after a tryout, though he was placed on injured reserve that season due to a back injury.[1][2] He earned a first-year salary of $25,000.[4]

Personal life

Pellegrini's younger brother, Dave, became an NCAA champion in the weight throw at Princeton.[5] The two often competed against each other in Ivy League throwing events.[6]

References
  1. Wallace, William N. (August 10, 1982). "Jets' Harvard 'Gift" Fills Gap on Line". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  2. Gehman, Jim (May 11, 2023). "Where Are They Now: Joe Pellegrini". New York Jets. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  3. Solomon, John D. (September 24, 1982). "The Joe Pellegrini Story". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. "Underpaid NFL 'little guys' ready to walk". Daily Record. September 19, 1982. p. 33. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Bruns, John (April 6, 1980). "Success of Pellegrini is built on hard work". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 22. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Verigan, Bill (August 24, 1982). "Jets' hopes center on Pellegrini". New York Daily News. p. 57. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.


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