The Bengals de Cincinnati they are an example of the transition that professional football underwent, from the old style based on running the ball, to the short-passing attack, without meeting to send the plays and many short passes.
They dominated both facets so well that in 1981 and 1988 they won the AFC championship and a ticket to the Super Bowl. In both participations, who had a prominent role was a player who calls himself Mexican and was the first member of Cincinnati to enter the NFL Hall of Fame: Anthony Muñoz.
native of Ontario, CaliforniaThe descendant of Mexican immigrants, Muñoz came close to never playing in the professional league because he suffered a torn knee ligament in his senior year with the Southern California Trojans. Despite the fact that teammates and coaches recommended him to rest and recover, he worked to play the last game of the season, in the Rose Bowl, and be ready for the 1980 draft.
His height, 1.98m, his weight, 129 kilos, as well as his speed, strength and agility, made him attractive, although some talent scouts stressed that he only played 16 complete games as a university student.
That year, the Bengals had the third overall pick, and to see if Muñoz was worth taking a chance on, they sent their head coach, Forrest Gregg, the starting tackle for Vince Lombardi’s Packers, a two-time winner. Super Bowlsand member of the Hall of Fame, to check out Anthony’s skills.
After seeing him run, test his strength and skill, Gregg He decided to test his technique. He set him up at offensive tackle and he lined up at defensive tackle; then he prepared to attack an imaginary quarterback. Gregg he feinted, as if to chase the passer and then tried to get around Muñoz to beat him on speed, but Muñoz reacted quickly, put his hands on the chest of Gregg, a man of 1.90 and 120 kilos, and sent him to the ground with a push.
A little fearful, Muñoz helped the coach to his feet and apologized. Gregg told him not to worry and at that point he decided that he would select him.
The decision was the best, not only for Gregg’s tenure that peaked in 1982, when they faced the 49ers in Super Bowl XVI, which they lost 26-21 in Pontiac, Michigan, but for the next 13 years. . Muñoz was voted the best tackle in the league in nine seasons.
To illustrate how dominant he was, Bob Trumpy, who was his partner in the Bengals Before becoming a reporter for television, he said: “in the old offenses, when there were 40 plays per game, the tackles would end up banged up because I hit them on every rep. When the rhythm changed, there was no meeting and there were 80 plays per game, the defenders ended up twice as beat up”.
But if Anthony Muñoz left school on the pitch, off it he has been at least as influential. Through his foundation or through his work with the league he organizes sports camps to emphasize the importance of education and discipline; sometimes he pays for these camps to showcase the talent of young people who could be awarded scholarships by universities.
In 2020, the league released the list of the 100 greatest players of all time. For the selection, players, managers, journalists, team owners were surveyed. Who ranked 12th was the Mexican-American Anthony Muñoz.
On the field, he distinguished himself by dominating all who faced him. Outside of it, in the activities that he organizes, he always has a message:
“Do the right thing when you have to make a decision. Be someone others can trust. Be a person with character.”
Read also: The Rams’ defense would be the Bengals’ nightmare.
