ABOUT TONY

Tony Fitzpatrick played for the Houston Gamblers, one of six expansion teams that competed in the U.S. Football League (USFL) in 1984 and 1985, with coaching legend Jack Pardee at the helm and Tony as a star defensive lineman.

Tony was a standout on the gridiron at Seminole High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. The three-year starter set a school record as a senior with 143 tackles. He was named MVP in the state’s All-Star game after logging 15 tackles and earned First Team All-State selection.

Once called “the rock of [University of] Miami’s defense” by the Hurricanes’ head coach Howard Schnellenberger, Tony was a third pick in the seventh round (128th overall) of the 1984 USFL draft.

Tony became an instant star defensive tackle, starting all 18 games and recording 13.5 sacks, 55 1/2, 20 assists and a single fumble recovery. The six-foot 260 lbs. defensive anchor recorded more tackles than any other Gamblers lineman, earning second team All-USFL by USFL writers and broadcasters in his rookie season.

After the USFL folded in 1986, Tony headed north and signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders, where he joined fellow Gamblers defensive lineman Lloyd Lewis. After only three games, Tony returned to Houston to play for the Oilers in 1987, where he suffered a shoulder injury prior to starting his first game.

After his pro-career ended, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Houston, and was a regular on sports radio for the Greater Houston area.

Tony currently serves the Deer Park area as the director of Business Development at Universal Plant Services, LLC.

Tony is one of several celebrated names in sports to emcee for the Pasadena ISD Athletics Hall of Fame. Past emcees have included ABC Sports Broadcaster Dan Lovett, star quarterback for the Houston Oilers Dan Pastorini, voice of the Houston Astros Larry Dierker, Houston Rockets playby-play voice Bill Worrell, and Fox 26 sports reporter Nate Griffin.