Ron Monaco

Ronnie Carl Monaco (born May 3, 1963) is a former American football linebacker who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, Vanderbilt Commodores, Northwest Mississippi Rangers and South Carolina Gamecocks. He saw limited action in college but nonetheless was able to sign with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals and made the team in 1986. He later spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Ron Monaco
No. 59, 51
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1963-05-03) May 3, 1963
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Hamden (CT)
College:San Diego State (1981)
Vanderbilt (1982)
Northwest Mississippi (1983)
South Carolina (1984–1985)
Undrafted:1986
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:17
Games started:3
Fumbles recovered:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Monaco was born on May 3, 1963, in New Haven, Connecticut.[1] He was brothers with NFL center Rob Monaco.[1] He played quarterback for his junior high school's football team, then switched to playing tight end and linebacker in order to be a starter for the team at Hamden High School.[2] As a senior at Hamden, he played fullback, but had to stop due to developing shin splints.[2] He played with his brother at Hamden and is one of seven of their alumni to make it to the NFL.[3]

College career

Monaco began his collegiate career with the San Diego State Aztecs in 1981, lettering while being a backup inside linebacker that year.[4][5] He transferred to play for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 1982, joining his brother Rob.[4][6] In 1983, he transferred again to Northwest Mississippi Community College; with their Ranger football team that year, he recorded an average of 22 tackles per game while helping them rank 12th-nationally among junior colleges.[4][7]

Monaco transferred for a third time in 1984 to play with the South Carolina Gamecocks.[7] He was regarded as one of the strongest players on the team, being able to squat a school-record 725 pounds.[2] However, he only saw limited action as a reserve linebacker and totaled 24 tackles in two seasons.[8]

Professional career

Monaco went unselected in the 1986 NFL Draft and afterwards signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent, joining his brother Rob.[8][9] He was described as the "longest of the NFL long shots" due to having seen little action at South Carolina and having not been selected in the NFL Draft; nonetheless, he ultimately was one of 11 rookies to make the team's final roster.[8] He appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals in his first season and was a starter for two games when E. J. Junior was injured.[1][10] He was released prior to the 1987 season.[11]

When the NFLPA went on strike mid-season in 1987, Monaco was signed as a replacement player by the Green Bay Packers and was named starter.[12] He appeared in two games, one as a starter, for the Packers, before being released at the end of the strike.[1][13] In March 1988, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.[14] He was released on August 29 that year.[15] He ended his career with 17 games played, three as a starter, and recorded one fumble recovery.[1]

References
  1. "Ron Monaco Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  2. Cole, Bob (October 31, 1985). "Right position". The State. p. 54. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. "Hamden (Hamden, CT) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  4. "Ronnie Monaco Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  5. "Aztecs". Times-Advocate. September 3, 1981. p. 61. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. Davy, Jimmy (March 22, 1983). "VU Weight Work Gives Team Lift; Spring Drills Open". The Tennessean. p. 67. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  7. "Sports Digest". The Columbia Record. August 11, 1984. p. 16. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. Gillespie, Bob (September 25, 1986). "Ron Monaco: longest of the NFL long shots". The Columbia Record. p. 45. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  9. "Big Red Notes". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 30, 1986. p. 41. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  10. Miklasz, Bernie (November 1, 1986). "Big Red Rookie Is On Spot". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 33, 36. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  11. "Transactions". Spokane Chronicle. September 8, 1987. p. 20. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. Oates, Tom (September 29, 1987). "Packers release their 'new' roster". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 11. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  13. "Ronnie Monaco NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  14. Gosselin, Rick (March 29, 1988). "Chiefs initiate 10-week training program". The Kansas City Times. p. 30. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  15. "Sports transactions". The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune. Associated Press. August 30, 1988. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. open access
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