Tony Tonelli

Amerigo Steven "Tony" Tonelli (September 1, 1917 – January 30, 1987) was an American football player.

Tony Tonelli
No. 15
Position:Center, guard
Personal information
Born:(1917-09-01)September 1, 1917
Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
Died:January 30, 1987(1987-01-30) (aged 69)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Thomas
(Wheeling, West Virginia)
College:USC
NFL Draft:1939 / Round: 19 / Pick: 177
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games:9
Player stats at PFR

Tonelli was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1917. He attended Thomas High School in West Virginia. He next enrolled at the University of Southern California and played at the center position for the USC Trojans football team from 1935 to 1938.[1] He returned from a knee injury sustained during the 1938 season to play for USC in the 1939 Rose Bowl.[2] He went on to block a punt in the Rose Bowl.[3]

He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 177th pick in the 1939 NFL Draft.[4] He appeared in nine games as a center and guard for the Lions during the 1939 season.[5]

After his playing career ended, Tonelli worked for a time as a coach. He then joined the United States Air Force and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died in 1987 in Newport Beach, California, at age 69.[3]

References
  1. "Tony Tonelli". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  2. "Tony Tonelli to Rejoin Trojan Squad for Tomorrow's Drill". Los Angeles Times. December 25, 1938. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Former Trojan Tony Tonelli Dies". Los Angeles Times. February 1, 1987. p. III-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "1939 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  5. "Tony Tonelli". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
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