John Matuszak

John Matuszak
Matuszak in 1987
No. 78, 79, 72
PositionDefensive end
Personal information
Born(1950-10-25)October 25, 1950
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 1989(1989-06-17) (aged 38)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight272 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High schoolOak Creek
(Oak Creek, Wisconsin)
CollegeIowa Central (1969),
Missouri (1970),
Tampa (1971–1972)
NFL draft1973: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Games played123
Games started106
Sacks48.5
Fumble recoveries7
Touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

John Daniel Matuszak (October 25, 1950 – June 17, 1989), nicknamed "Tooz", was an American professional football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) who later became an actor.

Matuszak was selected by the Houston Oilers with the first overall pick in the 1973 NFL draft and played most of his career with the Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders until retiring after winning his second Super Bowl in 1981. Matuszak participated in the 1978 World's Strongest Man competition, placing ninth. As an actor, he starred in both films and television, appearing first as O. W. Shaddock in North Dallas Forty (1979) followed by Tonda in Caveman (1981) and the deformed Sloth in The Goonies (1985). Matuszak's autobiography, Cruisin' with the Tooz, written with Steve Delsohn, was published in 1987.