Former Colts and Ravens defensive lineman Tony “The Goose” Siragusa passed away on Wednesday at the age of 55. Colts owner Jim Irsay posted to his Twitter account: “The Goose, Tony Siragusa has passed away at 55…I’m heart broken as is all of Colts Nation.”
Siragusa began his career as an un-drafted free agent out of Pittsburgh; he played seven seasons with the Colts and five with the Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl in 2000. Siragusa finished his career after playing 169 games, finishing with 22 sacks and five forced fumbles.
Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement: “Tony truly was bigger than life, on and off the field. He played the game passionately and relentlessly. Despite not being drafted, he thrived in the NFL for 12 years. His post-football life took him so many places but he never forgot Pitt. We could always count on him to send the best recorded Pep Talks to our guys before our biggest games. The Goose leaves a great legacy and he will be sorely missed, our sympathies to his family, many loved ones and former teammates.”
Siragusa’s former teammate, Ray Lewis, expressed condolences in a statement: “This is a tough one I love Goose like a brother. From the first day we met, I knew that life was different. I knew he was someone who would change my life forever.”
After his retirement, Siragusa was a sideline analyst for Fox Sports from 2003 until 2015. He also had some acting roles, appearing in “The Sopranos” and Spike Lee’s movie, “25th Hour.”
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