One of the all-time great NFL defensive tackles and former Baltimore Ravens legend, Tony Siragusa, has passed away at the age of 55, according to TMZ.
His former teammate, star running back Jamal Lewis, mourned the loss of his friend:
“It’s a sad day to be a Raven I must say.”
The cause of death of the 6-foot-3, 340-pound lineman has not been revealed.
Siragusa kickstarted his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1990, and was a starter by the 1992 season.
He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997, and was a key member of the 2000 Super Bowl XXXV winning team, which many believe is the greatest defense in NFL history.
Siragusa played alongside Ray Lewis, Rod Woodson, and Adalius Thomas, and was nicknamed “Goose,” as the 2000 Ravens defense held the record for the fewest points allowed in an NFL regular season.
He compiled 22 sacks and 564 combined tackles in his 12 years in the league, but he was more known for being a beloved figure in the locker room than he was a great football player.
And it showed in his post-NFL career.
He went on to become an NFL sideline reporter and analyst for FOX, had a minor role in the HBO series, The Sopranos, hosted the DIY Network series, Man Caves, as well as the Discovery Channel series, Megamachines.
A number of friends and colleagues paid their respects to the all time great:
