Tony Siragusa, the charismatic defensive tackle who helped lead a strong Baltimore defense to a Super Bowl title, is dead. He was 55 years old.
The Baltimore Ravens, for whom Siragusa played five seasons, said Siragusa died “unexpectedly” Wednesday morning. The cause of death was not immediately identified.
Tony Siragusa as a secondary reporter for an NFL clash between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 5, 2006. Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images
“This is a very sad day,” Siragusa broadcast agent Jim Ornstein told The Associated Press. “Tony was so much more than my client, he was a family. My heart goes out to Tony’s loved ones.”
Siragusa, known as “the goose,” played seven seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and five with the Ravens. The 2000 Baltimore team won the Super Bowl behind a defense that included Siragusa, Ray Lewis and Sam Adams.
“That’s tough. I love Goose as a brother,” Lewis said Wednesday in a statement, adding, “He was a unique person who made you feel important and special. You can never replace a man. That way.”
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay tweeted: “The Goose squeezed 200 years of fun love in 55 !! He was one of the strongest players physically I’ve ever seen in 50 years. end of life; was he passionate? In Tony’s case … Yes !! “
Siragusa was popular with fans for his fun-loving personality, which also helped him move quickly into the broadcast after his career as a player.
The NFL family mourns the loss of the great Tony “Goose” Siragusa. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/pe53Nz24be
– NFL (@NFL) June 22, 2022
Siragusa arrived in Baltimore as a free agent in 1997 and teamed up with Adams to form an impressive tandem of defensive tackles. In the 2000 Ravens championship season, the 6-foot 3 and 340-pound Siragusa was sixth among Baltimore defenders with 75 tackles.
“It was an honor and a privilege to line up with Tony Siragusa,” Adams said in a statement following the news of Siragusa’s death. “He made the game fun and he was a real competitor. Our D-line room was special on and off the field. May he rest quietly and may God bless and support his family.”
Siragusa finished his career with 22 sacks.
The news of Siragusa’s death reached what was already a tragic day for the Ravens. The death of Jaylon Ferguson, a Baltimore supporter, at the age of 26 was announced earlier in the day.
“This is a tremendously sad day for the Baltimore Ravens,” owner Steve Bisciotti said. “We thank all those who have expressed great support for our players, coaches and staff.”
Siragusa was a star football player and fighter at David Brearley High School in New Jersey. He then played collegiate in Pittsburgh, where he had a reputation for nonsense long before his NFL career.
“If I wanted to learn a song from school, I would have gone to Notre Dame or Penn State,” he once said. “I want to kill people on the football field. That’s why I came to Pitt.”
Siragusa was not selected before signing with Indianapolis, but turned out to be a winning force in the NFL championship. He then took his personality to the airwaves, working for Fox NFL coverage.
“His unparalleled passion for football made him one of the most charismatic personalities to ever step on the grid or in front of a camera,” Fox Sports said in a statement. “Goose was natural in his ability to relate the sport and its players to fans everywhere.”
Siragusa also starred in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and hosted programs on the Discovery Channel and DIY Network.
“Tony was really bigger than life, on and off the field,” said Pat Narduzzi, Pitt’s current football coach. “He played passionately and non-stop. Despite not being selected, he thrived in the NFL for 12 years. His life after football took him so many places but he never forgot Pitt. We could always count on him to send the “Pep talks to our boys before our most important matches.”
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