Tony Boselli
No. 71 | |||||||
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Position: | Tackle | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Modesto, California,U.S. | April 17, 1972||||||
Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 322 lb (146 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | Fairview (Boulder, Colorado) | ||||||
College: | USC(1991–1994) | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1995/ Round: 1 / Pick:2 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Player stats atPFR | |||||||
Don Bosco Anthony Boselli Jr.(born April 17, 1972) is an American formerfootballtacklewho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for seven seasons with theJacksonville Jaguars.He playedcollege footballfor theUSC Trojans,winning theMorris Trophyin 1994. Boselli was the first player drafted by the Jaguars, who selected himsecond overallin the1995 NFL draft.
During his tenure in Jacksonville, Boselli established himself as one of the franchise's most productive and popular players. He was named to fivePro Bowlsand three first-teamAll-Proswhile appearing in twoAFC Championship Games.In 2002, he was the first selection in the2002 NFL expansion draftby theHouston Texans,but retired without playing for them due to injuries. His accomplishments with Jacksonville led to him becoming the first inductee of theJaguars Hall of Fame,which he was named to in 2006. Boselli was inducted to theCollege Football Hall of Famein 2014 and thePro Football Hall of Famein 2022, making him the first Jaguars player inducted to the latter.
College career
[edit]Boselli accepted anathletic scholarshipto attend theUniversity of Southern California,where he played for theTrojansfrom 1991 to 1994.[1]He was a first-teamAll-Pac-10selection and a first-teamAll-Americanin1992,1993and1994.In 1994, he also won theMorris Trophy.While he was an undergraduate, he was initiated as a member of theSigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity. Boselli was named to theCollege Football Hall of Famein 2014.[2]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft6+7⁄8in (2.00 m) |
323 lb (147 kg) |
33+1⁄2in (0.85 m) |
10 in (0.25 m) |
5.23 s | 1.82 s | 3.05 s | 4.60 s | 30.0 in (0.76 m) |
8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
26 reps | ||
All values from NFL Combine[3] |
Boselli was selected as the second pick of the1995 NFL draft,the first-ever draft pick of thenewJacksonville Jaguarsfranchise.[4]As a result of his professional success and local popularity, Jacksonville-area McDonald's restaurants offered the "Boselli Burger" in his honor for a period of time.[5]
He was selected by theHouston Texansin the2002 expansion draft.[6]He spent the entire season on injured reserve and retired following the conclusion of the season.[citation needed]Boselli has blamed the end of his career on mistakes made during a surgery on his left shoulder.[7]
As a sign of his success in Jacksonville, on October 8, 2006, he was the first player inducted into thePride of the Jaguars(the team'sHall of Fame) and signed a symbolic one-day contract allowing him to retire officially as a Jaguar. Boselli was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 10, 2022, becoming the first Jaguars player to receive the honor.[7]
Life after football
[edit]Boselli participated in numerous business ventures during and after his professional football career. Along with former teammatesMark BrunellandBryan Schwartz,he invested in sevenMattress Firmbedding stores in Jacksonville. By the time Boselli left for Texas in 2002, he had sold his interest in the company.[8]Boselli and Brunell own allWhataburgerfranchise locations in the Jacksonville area.[9]He also works as the offensive line coach at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, on the same coaching staff as Brunell.[citation needed]
Boselli is also a founding partner inIF Marketingwith friends and former teammatesJeff NovakandWill Furrer.The marketing and advertising firm, with offices inGeorgetown, TexasandJacksonville, Florida,was originally calledIntra Focus marketing & advertising.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Since 2005, Boselli has lived inPonte Vedra Beach, Floridawith his wife, Angi and their five children, Andrew, Adam, Ashli, Alexis, and Ansli. Boselli has lost a significant amount of weight and now participates intriathlons.[citation needed]
Boselli's son Andrew received an athletic scholarship to attendFlorida State University,and played for theFlorida State Seminoles footballteam. While Adam played tight end collegiately forFlorida Atlantic
Sports broadcasting
[edit]In 2007, Boselli was hired as acolor commentatoron regional NFL telecasts forFox,teaming withRon Pitts.In his rookie season as a televised commentator, Boselli drew praise as one of the best in the business.[11] From 2009 to 2012, he worked as a game analyst and sideline reporter forWestwood One's coverage of the NFL. Beginning in 2013, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars radio play by play team.
Boselli was a former co-host on1010 XLwithDan Hickenand Jeff Prosser each morning from 6-10 am onSports Final Radio.He still appears part-time as a call-in guest.
Boselli was interviewed for an episode ofNFL's Greatest Gameswhich aired onESPN2.
Charity
[edit]Boselli and his wife created theBoselli Foundationin 1995 in Jacksonville to work with at-risk youth, and help them to cultivate high self-esteem and to succeed at home, at school, and at play. Beginning in 2007, he has spent substantial time working on projects with the foundation. He overcame opposition from local politicians when the Boselli Foundation proposed renovating and reopening a closed community center.[9]
References
[edit]- ^"Tony Boselli".Nfl.com.April 17, 1972.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
- ^National Football Foundation (May 22, 2014)."NFF Proudly Announces Impressive 2014 College Football Hall of Fame Class".FootballFoundation.org.RetrievedMay 22,2014.
- ^"Tony Boselli, Combine Results, OT - Southern California".nflcombineresults.com.RetrievedFebruary 10,2022.
- ^"1995 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMarch 31,2023.
- ^Times, The (August 16, 1998)."Jaguars: Advertising war games have definitely begun 08/16/98".Jacksonville.com. Archived fromthe originalon May 20, 2017.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
- ^"Texans make statement with Boselli".HoustonTexans.com.February 18, 2002.RetrievedAugust 13,2024.
- ^abLegwold, Jeff (February 11, 2022)."2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Meet the newest members".ESPN.com.RetrievedFebruary 11,2022.
- ^Times-Union sports writer."Warrior to minister".Jacksonville.com.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
- ^ab"Brunell, Boselli and burgers".Jacksonville.bizjournals.com. April 17, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
- ^"Briefs: Boselli marketing firm opens Jacksonville site".jacksonville.com. October 2, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
- ^"SI.com - Writers - Dr. Z: TV commentator rankings - Thursday February 7, 2008 10:17PM".Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. February 7, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 17,2010.
External links
[edit]- 1972 births
- Living people
- All-American college football players
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- American football offensive tackles
- College football announcers
- College Football Hall of Fame inductees
- Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees
- USC Trojans football players
- Jacksonville Jaguars draft picks
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- Houston Texans players
- Jacksonville Jaguars announcers
- National Football League announcers
- Players of American football from Colorado
- Sportspeople from Boulder, Colorado
- Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida
- National Football League players with retired numbers
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon members
- Second overall NFL draft picks