Anthony Muñoz on playing for USC and Hall of Fame career with the Bengals

In The Front Row with Mike Vaccaro

Anthony Muñoz grew up in Ontario, California around a loving family led by his mom. While never knowing his dad, Muñoz learned about work ethic from his mom and sports from his older brothers. Baseball was his first passion until high school when a coach saw the potential in him on the football field. That potential turned into talent as an offensive lineman and attracted college coaches from across the country. Growing up about 40 minutes from the University of Southern California, Muñoz knew USC was the only place he wanted to attend. Muñoz was a member of the Trojan football team playing for John Robinson while also pitching for the baseball team that won the 1978 National Championship under legendary head coach Rod Dedeaux. Injuries were part of Anthony’s four year on the football field, although a great performance in the Rose Bowl his senior season helped him move onto the NFL after the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him 3rd overall in 1980. Playing 13 season with the Bengals, Muñoz helped lead Cincinnati to two Super Bowls while being named a 9-time All-Pro First Team selection (twice 2nd Team), the 1991 NFL Man of the Year and a member of the NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams. He received the ultimate honor in 1998 when he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was the first exclusive Bengal to do so. Muñoz shares his journey with us including his coaches and teammates who helped him, his tackle-eligible plays that led to several touchdowns and his famous finger marred from a long NFL career. Plus, he shares the Hall of Fame brotherhood he’s helped create, the new role he has with the Hall as Chief Football Relationship Officer and the great work he’s done for more than 20 years in the Cincinnati community through the Anthony Muñoz Foundation (https://www.munozfoundation.org/)