Bill Cronin (tight end)
{{Short description|American football player (1943–1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bill Cronin
| image =
| number = 87, 90
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|11|20}}
| birth_place = Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1991|11|5|1943|11|20}}
| death_place = Westmont, New Jersey, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 231
| high_school =
| college = Boston College
| afldraftyear = 1965
| afldraftround = 15
| afldraftpick = 115
(by the Oakland Raiders){{cite web|url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/1965AFLDraft.html|title=1965 AFL Draft|access-date=March 23, 2017|archive-date=February 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225154441/http://profootballarchives.com/1965AFLDraft.html|url-status=dead}}
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1965}})
- Miami Dolphins (1966)
| highlights =
- First-team All-East (1964)
| pfr = C/CronBi00
}}
William F. Cronin, Jr. (November 20, 1943 – November 5, 1991) was an American football tight end who played one season with the Miami Dolphins of the American Football League (AFL). He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifteenth round of the 1965 AFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College. Cronin was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/cron01000.html | title=BILL CRONIN | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=June 8, 2015}}
College career
Cronin played college football for the Boston College Eagles and was a team captain.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1991-11-08/news/25768692_1_football-official-westmont-eagles |title=Bill Cronin, Grid Official, Ex-eagle |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=November 8, 1991 |accessdate=June 9, 2015 |author=Olsen, Eddie |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609145344/http://articles.philly.com/1991-11-08/news/25768692_1_football-official-westmont-eagles |archivedate=June 9, 2015 }}
Professional career
Cronin was selected by the Oakland Raiders of the AFL with the 115th pick in the 1965 AFL Draft. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL in 1965 and spent most of the season on the taxi squad. He played for the AFL's Miami Dolphins in 1966.
Officiating career
Cronin became a football official after his playing career. He was selected to officiate eight postseason games, including the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl, the 1989 Sugar Bowl and the 1987 Cotton Bowl. The NFL had asked him to submit an application in 1987 but he did not do so until January 1991 due to the birth of a child.
Death
He died of a heart attack on November 5, 1991, at his home in Westmont, New Jersey.
Personal life
Cronin's father Bill and uncle Jack also played football.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CronBi00.htm | title=Bill Cronin | publisher=ports Reference LLC | work=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=June 8, 2015}}
Cronin had three children from his first marriage and a fourth, Micheal P. Cronin, from his second marriage.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Raiders1965DraftPicks}}
{{1966 Miami Dolphins}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cronin, Bill}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Boston College Eagles football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Players of American football from Lawrence, Massachusetts