USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Anthony Muñoz in focus
USC football countdown to kickoff continues—Anthony Muñoz in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 77 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we take a look back at one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever play the game of football, Anthony Muñoz.
Position: Offensive line
Years played at USC: 1976-1979
Career highlights: Muñoz played at USC from 1976 through 1979. However, he unfortunately dealt with injuries throughout his USC career, and was forced to miss time in three of his four college seasons. Despite this, he was still named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 as a junior in 1978.
During the first game of his senior season in 1979, Muñoz suffered a knee injury that required surgery and was widely expected to end his season. However, Muñoz defied the odds returning in time for the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. The Trojans won, 17-16, with Heisman Trophy-winning running back Charles White leading the way, spoiling the Buckeyes bid for a perfect season and likely AP national championship.
After USC: Sadly, Muñoz did not accomplish much after graduating from USC. All that he did—after being selected third overall in the 1980 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals—was play 13 professional seasons, be selected to 11 Pro Bowls, earn nine first-team All-Pro honors, and win the 1991 NFL Man of the Year (now known as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) award. So yeah, a very disappointing resume.
Muñoz was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2019, he was named to the league's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Muñoz is widely considered to be one of the greatest, if not the single greatest, offensive linemen of all-time.
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