21 Facts About Tony Casillas

Tony Steven Casillas was born on October 26,1963 and is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League from 1986 through 1997.

Tony Casillas played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, winning an NCAA national championship in 1985, when he won the Lombardi Award and was the UPI Lineman of the Year.

Tony Casillas, of Mexican and Cherokee descent, was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 16,1963.

Tony Casillas attended Tulsa East Central High School where he was an All-State player.

Tony Casillas had a difficult start to his college football career.

In 1984, Tony Casillas was moved to nose guard and became a starter, receiving consensus All-American and first-team All-Conference honors.

Tony Casillas was named the UPI Lineman of the Year, the Big Eight Conference defensive player of the year, a consensus first team All-American and first team All-Conference.

Tony Casillas ended his college career with 18 sacks and 213 career tackles in addition to graduating with Academic All-American honors in 1985, and a degree in public relations.

In 2004, Tony Casillas became the second Hispanic to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Tony Casillas was inducted in to the Oklahoma Hispanic Hall of Fame on March 13,2025 at a ceremony at Oklahoma City Community College in South Oklahoma City.

Tony Casillas was introduced by his former coach Barry Switzer and gave the keynote address at the event.

Tony Casillas was selected second overall in the first round of the 1986 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Tony Casillas returned to the team with a new attitude and in time to start the regular season, where he made 111 tackles and was named a Pro Bowl alternate.

Tony Casillas exploded in 1989, becoming one of the best players at his position in the league with 152 tackles and was named second-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl alternate.

Tony Casillas eventually won the starting spot and became part of the best defense and the best defensive-line rotation in the NFL.

Tony Casillas's career was revived in Dallas as a specialist at stopping the run.

Tony Casillas was a part of back to back victories in Super Bowl XXVII and XXVIII against the Buffalo Bills two years in a row.

Tony Casillas left the team via free agency to join the Kansas City Chiefs for the 1994 season.

Tony Casillas immediately started having problems with the Kansas City Chiefs in mini-camp, practicing only sporadically, saying that he had a problem with high blood pressure.

Tony Casillas rejoined the Dallas Cowboys in a reserve role for the 1996 season, which was the only season in his career where he failed to record a sack.

Tony Casillas retired from professional football on February 25,1998, after playing in the NFL for 12 seasons.