Anthony Muñoz

In the 1980 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected 6-foot-6, 278-pound offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz out of USC with the third overall pick. A pitcher for the Trojans’ 1978 NCAA champion baseball team, Muñoz was a gifted dual-sport athlete whose combination of size, athleticism and skill ultimately proved ideal for football.

Despite missing all but one game his senior year at USC – a 17-16 victory over the previously unbeaten Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl – due to a knee injury, the Bengals were confident their selection would pay immediate dividends.

Their confidence was well-placed. After starting all 16 games as a rookie in 1980, Muñoz anchored the offensive line in 1981 and helped lead the Bengals to an AFC Championship victory over the San Diego Chargers in a game dubbed “The Freezer Bowl,” where wind-chill temperatures plunged to munus-59 degrees. Seven years later, in 1988, he played a key role in guiding Cincinnati to another AFC Championship Game victory, this time against the Buffalo Bills.

From 1981 to 1991, Muñoz earned Pro Bowl honors (11 consecutive seasons) and was named All-Pro each year (nine first-team selections, two second-team selections), providing elite protection for two MVP quarterbacks: Ken Anderson in 1981 and Boomer Esiason in 1988.

An exceptional straight-on blocker, Muñoz combined rare agility, explosive quickness and overwhelming strength. His precise footwork, balance and technique allowed him to neutralize the quickest defensive ends, while his mobility and field awareness let him execute complex blocks and reach second-level defenders seamlessly, making him a dominant force in both the running and passing game. A true all-around athlete, he caught seven passes and scored four touchdowns on tackle-eligible plays.

Regarded as one of the most dominant offensive tackles in NFL history, Muñoz was named NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1981, 1987 and 1988, and NFL Players Association Lineman of the Year in 1981, 1985, 1988 and 1989. He is a proud member of the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor and was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s, the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 100 All-Time Team.