Joe_Pellegrini

Joe Pellegrini

Joe Pellegrini

American football player (born 1957)

Joseph Anthony Pellegrini (born April 8, 1957) is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons for the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons.

Quick Facts No. 62, 64, Position: ...

Pellegrini hails from Hingham, Massachusetts.[1] He attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts, participating in football and track and field throwing events, though he admits he was not a great athlete.[2] Pellegrini graduated as valedictorian and enrolled at Harvard University.[2]

At Harvard, Pellegrini played for the Crimson football team while also doing track and field.[3] He skipped his senior season in an attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics as a discus thrower, training in West Germany, although he was ultimately unable to compete due to the boycott.[1] Pellegrini tried returning to the football team in 1981, but was not invited to training camp by head coach Joe Restic.[3] He instead earned his degree in geology.[1]

In 1981, Pellegrini signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets after a tryout, though he was placed on injured reserve that season due to a back injury.[1][2] He earned a first-year salary of $25,000.[4]

Personal life

Pellegrini's younger brother, Dave, became an NCAA champion in the weight throw at Princeton.[5] The two often competed against each other in Ivy League throwing events.[6]

References

  1. [1]
    Wallace, William N. (August 10, 1982). "Jets' Harvard 'Gift" Fills Gap on Line". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  2. [2]
    Gehman, Jim (May 11, 2023). "Where Are They Now: Joe Pellegrini". New York Jets. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  3. [3]
    Solomon, John D. (September 24, 1982). "The Joe Pellegrini Story". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Underpaid NFL 'little guys' ready to walk". Daily Record. September 19, 1982. p. 33. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. [5]
    Bruns, John (April 6, 1980). "Success of Pellegrini is built on hard work". The Central New Jersey Home News. p. 22. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. [6]
    Verigan, Bill (August 24, 1982). "Jets' hopes center on Pellegrini". New York Daily News. p. 57. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.


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