Tony Cline

{{Short description|American football player (1948–2018)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Refimprove|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

|name=Tony Cline

|number=84, 82

|position=Defensive end

|birth_date={{Birth date|1948|7|25|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|2018|7|23|1948|7|25}}

|height_ft=6

|weight_lb=244

|height_in=3

|high_school=Michigan City (IN)

|college=Miami (FL)

|draftyear=1970

|draftround=4

|draftpick=102

|pastteams=* Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|1970|1975}})

• San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}})

|statlabel1=Fumble recoveries

|statvalue1=3

|statlabel2=Interceptions

|statvalue2=3

|pfr=ClinTo20

}}

Anthony Francis Cline (July 25, 1948 – July 23, 2018) was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders from 1970 to 1975 and the San Francisco 49ers from 1976 to 1977. He played college football at the University of Miami. Some researchers claim that he holds the American Football Conference (AFC) rookie sack record with 17½ in 1970, but the NFL has only recognized a sack as an official statistic since 1982, so Cline's record is not officially recognized. His son, Tony Cline Jr., also played in the NFL. His son-in-law, Jason Kapono played 8 seasons in the NBA.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/Article/Oakland-Raiders-San-Francisco-49ers-former-defensive-end-Tony-Cline-passes-away-120016015/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723212318/https://247sports.com/nfl/oakland-raiders/Article/Oakland-Raiders-San-Francisco-49ers-former-defensive-end-Tony-Cline-passes-away-120016015/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2018|title=Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers former defensive end Tony Cline passes away|website=247sports.com|accessdate=26 July 2018}}