Tony Steven Casillas (born October 26, 1963) is a retired American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1986 to 1997. A standout at the University of Oklahoma, he played a pivotal role in securing the 1985 NCAA National Championship. Casillas earned the prestigious Lombardi Award in 1985 and was honored as the UPI Lineman of the Year that same year. He contributed to the Dallas Cowboys' back-to-back Super Bowl victories in XXVII and XXVIII against the Buffalo Bills. In 2004, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early Years

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 26, 1963, Casillas attended Tulsa East Central High School, where he excelled as an All-State player. His college football career began with challenges, including an ankle injury during his redshirt freshman year that sidelined him for an entire season. After a slow start, he transitioned to nose guard in 1984, becoming a starter and receiving consensus All-American and first-team All-Conference honors.

In 1985, Casillas became only the second Sooner to win the Lombardi Award, recognizing him as the nation’s top lineman. He was also named UPI Lineman of the Year, Big Eight Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and a consensus first-team All-American. He concluded his college career with 18 sacks and 213 tackles while graduating with Academic All-American honors and a degree in public relations. In 2004, he became the second Hispanic player, with a Mexican father and Irish-Native American mother, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation also recognized him as the College Defensive Player of the Decade for the 1980s. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

Professional Career

Casillas was selected second overall in the 1986 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1991, where he played a crucial role in two consecutive Super Bowl Championships. After a successful 12-year career in the NFL, he retired in 1997. Since retiring, Tony has embraced entrepreneurship, becoming a sports broadcaster, public speaker, and brand ambassador.

He is actively involved in several charitable organizations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, recently serving as Co-Chair for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and Allys Wish alongside his wife, Tamara. Together, they have three children: Chase, Jett, and Sophia.