Matuszak also played for various NFL teams--his longest stint of six years having been spent with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders--and later joined . She was also a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Silver Spring. However, he was kicked out when he completely beat up a guy on the twenty-first birthday of one of his fraternity brothers. In 1976 Jack graduated from Indiana University. He started to devote a lot of time to working with kids and charities, and spent many hours with his beloved nieces and nephews as well. As a kid, John Matuszak was still growing into his body. According to the LA Times, after the Matuszak family moved from downtown Milwaukee to the village of Oak Creek, Matuszak would often come home from school crying because the other kids were picking on him for being a "gawky beanpole.". And then he was gone, and the lifestyle-driven speculation was running wild. His life may have been a rocky road, but the Tooz cruised through it, and there was rarely a dull moment along the way. You sit out a game and your replacement could steal your job, so you play with the pain which sometimes leads to even more injuries. In his autobiography playfully entitled Cruisin' with the Tooz even though it was basically a story of horrible tragedy, addiction, and the pending downfall of a talented human being Matuszak described six car accidents that resulted in convictions. There were also traces of cocaine found in his bloodstream. He then joined the Raiders as a free agent just before the second game of the 1976 season. Later during World War II, she served with the Coast Guard in Charleston, S.C. She moved to Silver Spring in 1956 and continued with the Scouts here as a troop leader trainer, a troop leader and as a member of the board of directors of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital in the early 1980s. C. GRANT STETTER FBI Agent, Administrative Law Judge C. Grant Stetter, 74, a former Washington lawyer and FBI agent who served as an administrative law judge with the Social Security Administration in Flint, Mich., from 1973 to 1982, died June 10 at a hospital in Shallotte, N.C., after stroke. When his roommate came to pick him up from jail, he was wearing handcuffs, his Super Bowl Ring, a pair of powder blue cowboy boots and not a single shred of fabric. One season after that Super Bowl, his career was over. 12: Not the John Matuszak you were looking for? How many men get to work under the genius of both John Madden and Steven Spielberg? For formal education, his parents enrolled him at Oak Creek High School. Educational Background. One of these walking object lessons was John Belushi. He started his college career at the University of Missouri, then transferred to the University of Tampa. He is supposed to tie up as many linemen as possible in order to free the linebackers. They loved playing with Matuszak so much that they would sometimes mess up his makeup, which took hours to re-apply. 40, born abt : 1900 . Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, took two of his siblings and sickened his younger sister, Dawn, who died in 1991, just a couple years after her superstar brother. John Matuszak was drafted first overall in the 1973 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. This is when Matuszak believed his "bad guy" reputation began: The Tooz wanted out, but a trade was out of the question, so he knew he had to force the Oilers' hand. While playing for the Oilers, he joined the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL), playing a total of seven plays before a restraining order was served to him during a game, barring him from playing for two teams at the same time.His first major role as an actor was in the 1979 movie "North Dallas Forty" as a football player. If you go through those things in your mind, you can do them. John Matuszak, the former Los Angeles Raider who died of an accidental overdose of painkiller last summer, left most of his estate to his mother and three sisters in Wisconsin but his Super Bowl rings will go to his nephews. View Actual Record. And when he misbehaved so blatantly that they couldn't really ignore what he'd done, they usually just laughed about it. "Vodka and Valium," coach George Allen explained, "the breakfast of champions." The Oilers were unsurprisingly unimpressed, and the LA Times said they even went as far as sending a team of lawmen to a football game to chase Matuszak around the sidelines with a subpoena. Paramedics attempted to perform CPR, but Matuszak's chest was so huge it was "like hitting a rock wall.". It was a rough and wild time in his life one that cast long shadows. He is most remembered for His best known role was as the deformed Sloth in . 1 NFL draft pick in 1973, thus proving that it's okay to mess up someone's face as long as you didn't actually mean to mess up his face, and as long as you're really, really good at football. It was tough to quit football. The Dukes of Hazzard is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. As an actor, Matuszak played in both films and television, appearing first as O.W. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Alabama guard John Hannah, selected fourth by the New England Patriots, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991, his first year of eligibility, following a 13-year career, while quarterback Bert Jones (Baltimore Colts), offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore and tight end Charle Young . Hi guys, welcome to my site with rare photos of stars. He was playing for the Houston Texans of the World Football League, but was still under contract to the Houston Oilers of the National Football League. +C $10.34 shipping. Boredom set in quickly: He was alone and depressed, desperately missing the joy and structure of football. An article written for Sports Illustrated's website in January 2005 named him one of the top five all-time "bad boys" of the NFL.[8]. John Grunenwald, 94, passed away on January 10, 2023, in Corpus Christi , Texas. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At 6-foot-9, Mr. Matuszak, who played with the Raiders from 1976 to 1981, was an imposing sight on the field, staring down opponents with a black-bearded scowl before shooting off the defensive line with great speed for his 280 pounds. Jan 1, 1984. [7] In his autobiography, he stated that he used drugs and abused alcohol while playing professional football. His debut came in 1979's North Dallas Forty:Matuszak's role as offensive lineman O.W. Ian Reso, both of Virginia Beach; a stepdaughter, Patricia Lee Reso of Chicago, and one grandchild. John Matuszak dating history Relationships. Hear the full phone call in the video above or via audio here: https://soundcloud.com . Kent State's coach was Don James, who went on to win the 1991 national championship at Washington. It's a nice release when you make a perfect tackle, a good hit. The winning continued, and they got back to the promised land in 1979 for Super Bowl XV in New Orleans. In 1986 a male dancer accused him of assault and sued him for $1.5 million. John Matuszak was an American Footballer and Actor (born 25 October 1950 - Died 17 June 1989). Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. College: Tampa Spartans football John Matuszak Career. But because of the many injuries hed sustained during his career, his heavy use of painkillers continued. It doesn't matter if you're too short, too tall, too fat, or too skinny they're going to find something about you to pick on. His primary income source was through his acting and football career. Carter Reso and Navy Cmdr. The only way to play football is with reckless abandon, or they'll knock your beard off. In it he writes: I abstain from cocaine, and any other foreign substance, entirely now. She was a member of the Mary Washington chapter No. One local remembered him pushing aside the town's mayor so he could sign an autograph for a child. Matuszak's other notable movies areOne Crazy Summer(1986),Ghost Writer(1989),The Princess and the Dwarf(1989), and many others. His teammates tried to rouse him, but he was unresponsive. After sitting out the 1982 season in Los Angeles, where the Raiders moved that year, with an injury, he retired to pursue full time an acting career in which he had dabbled while a player. The night after an exhibition game with the Oilers at the Astrodome, he had a game the next night at the same exact venue, with a different team, in a different league. When they offered the rookie a contract, they lowballed him. View Actual Record Or find other results in the 1940 census for John Matuszak. [10] He was 38 years old. Matuszak got into an argument with the driver of the other car, then knocked him out cold before fleeing the scene. After seeing Steve Reeves play the title role in 1958'sHercules, he asked his parents for weights to bulk up his skinny frame. Matuszak's other notable movies are One Crazy Summer (1986), Ghost Writer (1989), The Princess and the Dwarf (1989), and many others.His last movie, Down the Drain, was released in 1990, after his demise. John has been found in 19 states including Illinois, Ohio, New York, Florida, South Carolina. Matuszak died on June 17, 1989, as a result of acute propoxyphene intoxication, an accidental overdose of the prescription drug Darvocet, according to the findings of the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. He pleaded guilty, but then told a reporter: "Some guy purposely caused an accident." John had 7 siblings: Franciszka Matuszak, Jakub Matuszak and 5 other siblings. The joke at the time was that you didnt have to be a convicted felon to play for the Raiders, but it helped. Maybe because Matuszak fit in with this team full of screw-ups and misfits, he finally buckled down and began to perform up to his potential. But when it came to John Matuszak, trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went. He earned his accounting degree from Southeastern University in Washington. Football defined John Matuszak's life. "The Tooz" joined the Raiders after a year with the Houston Oilers and two with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, whenever anyone met him, worked with him, or enjoyed life with him, they came away knowing he was a giving person and a gentle giant. Oct. 25, 1989 12 AM PT. Nothing seemed able to stop the other kids from teasing him incessantly. He played in 87 . He enjoyed the company of kids, but afterwards, they made him feel depressed. Keep visiting for the latest in John Matuszak Throwback mens,womens and youth (kids) jerseys. Tragically, within four years of that family classic's release, the ex-NFL player passed away aged just 38, due to an accidental overdose of a since-outlawed prescription painkiller. "I ordered a cake," said Cozart. He even liked to dress up as Santa Claus and entertain children around Christmas time. On top of everything, the adhesives and prosthetics aggravated his skin. I think about the game plan, and then I go through all the little things that are almost impossible to do. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Yet he ended up calling his time in Houston his imprisonment. Men's Nike Oakland Raiders 72 John Matuszak Elite Black Camo Fashion NFL Jersey. Why, I wasn't even the most valuable senior athlete in my high school in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Dante Anthony Pastorini (born May 26, 1949) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Houston Oilers. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Matuszakdebuted in filmsas O.W. Mr. Griffith was a native of Washington and a graduate of George Mason High School in Falls Church. Matuszak was always big for his age, which became an advantage as a defensive lineman in football. Matuszak enjoyed "enough parties for twenty people's lives", and especially lived it up during the season onWednesdays, AKA "Tooz Day." "No," Matuszak shouted. OnJune 17, 1989, he accidentallyoverdosed on Darvocet, a combination of Tylenol and a painkiller called propoxyphene. Matuszakbecame the NFL's first pickof the Houston Oilers in 1973. He generally played the tough guy in guest spots in film and television. Matuszak also did a three day stint in jail for carrying a concealed weapon. One other complication that was a factor in his death was that he had an enlarged heart, too big even for his massive frame. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 25, 1950, Matuszak grew up playing football as a defensive end. [3], Matuszak was the first pick of the 1973 NFL Draft, selected by the Houston Oilers. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-banner-1-0'); According toCelebrity Net Worth, Matuszak had an estimated net worth equivalent to $400 thousand when he died in 1990. In Matuszak's first season,the Raiders won their first Super Bowl title, and Matuszak played a big part in that victory. John Matuszak was just 38 when he died of heart failure a decade ago, and his flamboyance made an explanation mandatory. He always played well, though, so he managed to get away with all the hijinks. His bad boy reputation had few teams lining up to offer him a job. So even then, The Tooz had a reputation for drink and debauchery, though it would only get worse as the years passed. Matuszak said he had no plans to play in that game but requested to play after seeing 25 or so men looking for him on the sidelines. John Matuszak. [4] In 1976, the Kansas City Chiefs traded Matuszak to the Washington Redskins but he was released by the Redskins soon after. He was also a member of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church in Alexandria. From the time Matuszak appeared for an interview with Al Davis--wearing a black suit, of course--his growth had nothing to do with his 6-foot-8-inch, 280-pound frame; he had just begun to turn into a man. The Houston Oilers made him the No. If you go through those things in your mind, you can do them. The attention he so desperately wanted from his peers finally started to come. His second season in Houston ended before it ever started. I've grown up a lot, and I have such great memories of playing football. She was a past president of the Arlington Northwest Lioness Club. He was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.[2]. Kerhin remembers a slightly gentler version of Matuszak, who would drop by the American Legion Post 434 in Oak Creek, the town hot spot, to grab a drink during his visits back home. He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. Fresh out of college, Matuszaks drug use was so outrageous that his teammates called him John Glenn, like the famous astronaut because he was often flying high. So despite his massive frame and incredible talent on the field, his football career was extremely rocky. Estranged, they have a 4-year-old daughter, Caitlin. The screen is only 24 inches. His death made a huge impact upon Matuszak so huge, it couldn't be overshadowed by the fact that Matuszak met Richard Donner the very same night he met Belushi. So, he bulked up his grades at Fort Dodge, a junior college. View John Matuszak results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. For one thing, the Oilers were then the worst team in the NFL. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Years: 1976-82. John Matuszak in Wisconsin. . He attended the University of Tampa and played for their football team. His second wife, Patricia Beaumont Stetter, died in 1987. Our dedicated Editorial team verifies each of the articles published on the Biographyhost. Unfortunately, he probably took too much of it precisely because it was "mild." Two of his little brothers died of it: Christopher after two months of life, and David at the age of two years. Matuszak was the only one of the first six selections of the 1973 draft to never earn first-team All-Pro honors. Paperback. He was an accountant with Air Cargo Inc. of Washington for 35 years until he retired in 1979. John Matuszak has gone on to play for several teams in the NFL, including the Houston Oilers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. Also attended the University of Missouri and Iowa Central Community College before going to Tampa. Sponsored. . And so Matuszak kind of just went on like that for most of the rest of his career brawling, getting in trouble, being forgiven things only celebrities can get away with. Luckily, his coach rushed him to the hospital and saved his life. Like most children and people who don't ever really grow up, John Matuszak never took responsibility for any of the crazy, dangerous, and irresponsible things he did. One thing most of the actors who worked with Matuszak had to say about him was that he was a genuine pleasure to work with. As his fame grew, so did his personality, which stretched way beyond the gridiron. Mr. Matuszak's off-field antics often gained him as much notoriety as his play. Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, took two of his siblings and sickened his younger sister, Dawn, who died in 1991, just a couple years after her superstar brother. This led to endless heartbreak, a crisis of faith, and trouble being around children going forward for Matuszak their presence made him deeply sad. The staff did not quibble with the Tooz's tales of his long trip from the South Pole. I dont ever want to go back, he added. Matuszak was devoted to his family and,according to United Press International, spent a lot of time visiting his sister when she was in a Milwaukee hospital struggling with her disease. After an injury, John Matuszak sat out the 1982 season and then decided to retire from football and pursue an acting career. "When he arrived," coachJohn Madden told ESPN, "I wasn't about to talk to him about his past. Matuszak was born in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. But after I was injured, I didn't want people paying money to see only half a John Matuszak. In Silver Spring's Oak View community where she had lived for 27 years, Mrs. Spencer was a founder of the citizens association and the community pool. John Daniel Matuszak (October 25, 1950 - June 17, 1989) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who later became an actor. John Matuszak (October 25, 1950 - June 17, 1989) was a football player and actor who portrayed Sloth in The Goonies. 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