Sisto Averno
 Averno on a 1953 Bowman football card | |
| Position: | Guard, Linebacker |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born: | May 25, 1925 Paterson, New Jersey |
| Died: | March 26, 2012 (aged 86) Randallstown, Maryland |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 237 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Paterson (NJ) |
| College: | Muhlenberg |
| NFL Draft: | 1951 / Round: 30 / Pick: 362 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career NFL statistics | |
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |
Sisto Joseph Averno (May 12, 1925 – March 26, 2012) was an American football guard and linebacker who played in the National Football League for the original Baltimore Colts (1950), the New York Yanks (1951), Dallas Texans (1952) and the Baltimore Colts (1953–1954). He was the final pick of the 1951 NFL Draft, serving as that draft's Mr. Irrelevant. Sisto's college football career also earned him recognition as a member of the Muhlenberg College Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]
In his five years with the Colts, Averno's starting pay was $4,000. The most he ever made in one season was $9,500. Sisto would usually play the whole game as a member of the offensive line, linebacker, kickoff and punt teams.
He also had a reputation for playing while injured. According to Sisto: "One time, I separated my shoulder," Averno said. "I told the coach, Clem Crowe. He said, 'Block with the other one.'"[2]
Later in life[]
In his later years, Sisto suffered a stroke, had his knee and a hip replaced, and he also required the use of a walker to get around. These conditions are thought to be linked to injuries he suffered during his playing years. Because of these health conditions, Averno became an advocate for better benefits to retired NFL players.[3]
References[]
- ^ "Muhlenberg College Athletic Hall of Fame". muhlenberg.edu. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Baltimore, PressBox Online. "The Haunting:
Ghosts of NFL Past Refuse to Go Gently Into that Good Night". PressBox Online Baltimore. Retrieved April 22, 2017. - ^ "NFL Former Players". Retrieved April 22, 2017.
External links[]
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- 1925 births
- 2012 deaths
- Players of American football from Paterson, New Jersey
- Baltimore Colts players
- Baltimore Colts (1947–1950) players
- Dallas Texans (NFL) players
- New York Yanks players
- Muhlenberg Mules football players
- American football offensive lineman, 1920s birth stubs
- American football linebacker, pre-1930s birth stubs