Larry Onesti
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Joseph "Larry" Onesti (born November 12, 1938 in Chicago
, Illinois
) is a former professional American football
linebacker
in the American Football League
. He played four seasons for the Houston Oilers
.
Onesti was a three-year football letterman for the Northwestern University Wildcats from 1959–61, and one of the first NU football players to be named Academic All-America. He won the honor in 1961, following his senior season. As a captain for the 1961 squad, Onesti also was named All-America, All- Big Ten, and Academic All-Big Ten. He is one of only three NU football players to be named both All-America and Academic All-America in the same season. He participated in the 1961 North-South All-Star Game, the 1962 Coaches' All-America Game and the1962 Coaches' All-America Game and the 1962 College All-Star Game. Onesti was a ninth round draft pick of the Houston Oilers in 1962 and played four seasons in the AFL.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is a former professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. He played four seasons for the Houston Oilers
History of the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are the professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the then-Houston, Texas, team began play in 1960 as a...
.
Onesti was a three-year football letterman for the Northwestern University Wildcats from 1959–61, and one of the first NU football players to be named Academic All-America. He won the honor in 1961, following his senior season. As a captain for the 1961 squad, Onesti also was named All-America, All- Big Ten, and Academic All-Big Ten. He is one of only three NU football players to be named both All-America and Academic All-America in the same season. He participated in the 1961 North-South All-Star Game, the 1962 Coaches' All-America Game and the1962 Coaches' All-America Game and the 1962 College All-Star Game. Onesti was a ninth round draft pick of the Houston Oilers in 1962 and played four seasons in the AFL.