Anthony Muñoz redefined the offensive tackle position, dominating defensive lines with unmatched agility to become the cornerstone of the Cincinnati Bengals.
ANTHONY MUñOZ
Football Bio
August 19, 1958 – Ontario, California – Anthony Muñoz was born. He was a 6-foot-6, 278-pound offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals for 13 seasons.
Anthony starred in both college football and baseball at Southern Cal. In fact, the big man who also pitched on USC’s 1978 National Championship baseball team was considered to be one of the best offensive linemen of his generation, per a Yahoo.com report.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Anthony third overall in the 1980 NFL Draft. During his pro career, Muñoz started in 184 of his 185 total NFL games. He played in 11 consecutive Pro Bowls and was the NFL Offense Alignment of the Year three different times.
Mr. Muñoz played in the Bengals’ first two Super Bowl appearances, Super Bowl 16 and 23, both narrow losses to Bill Walsh‘s San Francisco 49ers. He was named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade team and the NFL 75th Anniversary teams.
Anthony’s great play at the position earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in the 1998 induction class. Truly a great lineman, Anthony Muñoz was one of the best.
Anthony Muñoz sets the gold standard for NFL offensive linemen, cementing his legendary status as the greatest tackle in history through his first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1998 during his first year of eligibility.
- 11× Pro Bowl Selection: Voted to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1981 to 1991.
- 9× First-Team All-Pro: Earned First-Team honors nine times.
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: Honored for his volunteer and charity work in 1991.
- NFL All-Time Teams: Selected to both the NFL 75th Anniversary and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team: Selected for his sheer dominance during the decade.
- Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor: Enshrined as a first-ballot inductee in 2021.
- USC National Champion: Led the USC Trojans to the 1978 National Championship.
- NFL Draft History: Selected 3rd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1980 NFL Draft.
- Super Bowl Participant: Started at tackle in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII.
