Tony Curcillo
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2020) |
| CFL East All-Star | 1957, 1958 |
|---|---|
Anthony Curcillo Jr. (May 27, 1931 – December 8, 2020) was an American Grey Cup champion football player in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).
College years
Curcillo was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in 1950 and 1951 and played linebacker, tailback, and center in 1952. Although recruited by Wes Fesler, he would become Woody Hayes' first starting quarterback at Ohio State when Hayes was hired in 1951. Curcillo's running back from during the 1950 and 1951 seasons was Vic Janowicz, the recipient of the 1950 Heisman Trophy and Curcillo's former teammate at Elyria High School.
Professional career
Curcillo was drafted by the
After graduating from Ohio State University with a bachelor in social administration in 1954, he became a second lieutenant and reported to Fort Sheridan, Illinois in June of that year.
Curcillo rejoined the Cardinals in 1956, but did not receive any playing time behind Lamar McHan. Midway through the season he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, a forerunner of the present day Canadian Football League. He replaced the controversial Ronnie Knox and on November 17, 1956, he passed for 518 yards in a playoff game against the Montreal Alouettes, still a CFL playoff record. When Bernie Faloney joined the Tiger-Cats in 1957, Curcillo became an all-star linebacker while also serving as the team's backup quarterback.
In 1973, he was inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame.
Death
He died from complications of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in California.[4]
References
- The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, June 16, 1954, page 10. (subscription required)
- Corpus Christi Caller, Corpus Christi, Texas, volume 73, number 281, December 13, 1954, page 2B. (subscription required)
- ^ "Anthony Curcillo, Jr. Engaged To Iowa Girl", The Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio, June 15, 1956, page 10. (subscription required)
- ^ Tony Curcillo, Woody Hayes' First Starting Quarterback at Ohio State, Dies at 89