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Amerigo Steven "Tony" Tonelli (September 1, 1917 – January 30, 1987) was an American football player.

Tonelli was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1917. He attended Thomas High School in West Virginia. He next enrolled at the University of Southern California and played at the center position for the USC Trojans football team from 1935 to 1938. He returned from a knee injury sustained during the 1938 season to play for USC in the 1939 Rose Bowl. He went on to block a punt in the Rose Bowl.

He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 177th pick in the 1939 NFL draft. He appeared in nine games as a center and guard for the Lions during the 1939 season.

After his playing career ended, Tonelli worked for a time as a coach. He then joined the United States Air Force and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died in 1987 in Newport Beach, California, at age 69.

References

1. "Tony Tonelli". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
2. "Tony Tonelli to Rejoin Trojan Squad for Tomorrow's Drill". Los Angeles Times. December 25, 1938. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Former Trojan Tony Tonelli Dies". Los Angeles Times. February 1, 1987. p. III-4 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "1939 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
5. "Tony Tonelli". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.

• 1917 births
• 1987 deaths
• American football centers
• Detroit Lions players
• Keesler Field Fliers football players
• Santa Ana Army Air Base Flyers football players
• USC Trojans football players
• United States Air Force officers
• Sportspeople from Wheeling, West Virginia
• Players of American football from West Virginia
• Military personnel from West Virginia