Ron Monaco
{{Short description|American football player (born 1963)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ron Monaco
| image =
| number = 59, 51
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|5|3}}
| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 225
| high_school = Hamden {{nowrap|(Hamden, Connecticut)}}
| college = San Diego State (1981)
Vanderbilt (1982)
Northwest Mississippi (1983)
South Carolina (1984–1985)
| undraftedyear = 1986
| pastteams =
- St. Louis Cardinals ({{NFL Year|1986|1987}})
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1987}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|1988}})*
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 17
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 3
| statlabel3 = Fumbles recovered
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = MonaRo21
}}
Ronnie Carl Monaco (born May 3, 1963) is an American former football linebacker who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs, Vanderbilt Commodores, Northwest Mississippi Rangers and South Carolina Gamecocks. He saw limited action in college but nonetheless was able to sign with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals and made the team in {{NFL Year|1986}}. He later spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Early life
Monaco was born on May 3, 1963, in New Haven, Connecticut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MonaRo21.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Ron Monaco Stats|access-date=March 28, 2018|archive-date=October 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020090552/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MonaRo21.htm|url-status=live}} He was brothers with NFL center Rob Monaco. He played quarterback for his junior high school's football team, then switched to playing tight end and linebacker in order to be a starter for the team at Hamden High School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state/133565408/|newspaper=The State|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 31, 1985|page=54|title=Right position|author=Cole, Bob|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211705/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state/133565408/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} As a senior at Hamden, he played fullback, but had to stop due to developing shin splints. He played with his brother at Hamden and is one of seven of their alumni to make it to the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93bb96c5|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Hamden (Hamden, CT) Alumni Pro Stats|access-date=October 16, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114215440/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93bb96c5|url-status=live}}
College career
Monaco began his collegiate career with the San Diego State Aztecs in 1981, lettering while being a backup inside linebacker that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerm/mona00800.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Ronnie Monaco Stats|access-date=October 16, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211603/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerm/mona00800.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-advocate/133565847/|newspaper=Times-Advocate|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 3, 1981|page=61|title=Aztecs|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211622/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-advocate/133565847/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He transferred to play for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 1982, joining his brother Rob.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean/133566051/|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 22, 1983|page=67|title=VU Weight Work Gives Team Lift; Spring Drills Open|author=Davy, Jimmy|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211622/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean/133566051/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} In 1983, he transferred again to Northwest Mississippi Community College; with their Ranger football team that year, he recorded an average of 22 tackles per game while helping them rank 12th-nationally among junior colleges.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record/133566972/|newspaper=The Columbia Record|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 11, 1984|page=16|title=Sports Digest|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211622/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record/133566972/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}
Monaco transferred for a third time in 1984 to play with the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was regarded as one of the strongest players on the team, being able to squat a school-record 725 pounds. However, he only saw limited action as a reserve linebacker and totaled 24 tackles in two seasons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record/133567293/|newspaper=The Columbia Record|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 25, 1986|page=45|author=Gillespie, Bob|title=Ron Monaco: longest of the NFL long shots|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211623/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbia-record/133567293/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}
Professional career
Monaco went unselected in the 1986 NFL draft and afterwards signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent, joining his brother Rob.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133568754/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 30, 1986|page=41|title=Big Red Notes|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211623/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133568754/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He was described in a headline in The Columbia Record as the "longest of the NFL long shots" due to having seen little action at South Carolina and having not been selected in the NFL Draft; nonetheless, he ultimately was one of 11 rookies to make the team's final roster. He appeared in 15 games for the Cardinals in his first season and was a starter for two games when E. J. Junior was injured.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133568993/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 1, 1986|page=33, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133569038/ 36]|title=Big Red Rookie Is On Spot|author=Miklasz, Bernie|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211623/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/133568993/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He was released prior to the 1987 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle/133569158/|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 8, 1987|page=20|title=Transactions|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018212113/https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle/133569158/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}
When the NFLPA went on strike mid-season in 1987, Monaco was signed as a replacement player by the Green Bay Packers and was named starter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal/133569249/|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 29, 1987|page=11|title=Packers release their 'new' roster|author=Oates, Tom|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018213119/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal/133569249/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He appeared in two games, one as a starter, for the Packers, before being released at the end of the strike.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsm/mona00800.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Ronnie Monaco NFL Transactions|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018211619/https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactionsm/mona00800.html|url-status=live}} In March 1988, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times/133569431/|newspaper=The Kansas City Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 29, 1988|page=30|title=Chiefs initiate 10-week training program|author=Gosselin, Rick|author-link=Rick Gosselin|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018213120/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times/133569431/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He was released on August 29 that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chillicothe-constitution-tribune/133569527/|newspaper=The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 30, 1988|page=5|title=Sports transactions|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 17, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018213123/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chillicothe-constitution-tribune/133569527/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He ended his career with 17 games played, three as a starter, and recorded one fumble recovery.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Monaco, Ron}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Players of American football from New Haven, Connecticut
Category:San Diego State Aztecs football players
Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football players
Category:Northwest Mississippi Rangers football players
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks football players
Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players