Ken Fantetti

Ken Fantetti (born April 7, 1957) is a former American football linebacker who played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions from 1979 through 1985.

Ken Fantetti
Born: (1957-04-07) April 7, 1957
Toledo, Oregon
Career information
Position(s)Linebacker
CollegeUniversity of Wyoming
NFL draft1979 / Round: 2 / Pick 37
Career history
As player
1979–1985Detroit Lions

Fantetti was born in Toledo, Oregon, in 1957 and played college football at the University of Wyoming from 1975 to 1978. As a senior in 1978, he had 124 tackles, including 73 unassisted tackles, and was selected as an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.[1] He had 15 unassisted tackles and nine assists in a 1978 game against Utah. He was also selected as the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.[1]

He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round (37th overall pick) of the 1979 NFL Draft.[2] At the time, Lions head coach Monte Clark called Fantetti "a deluxe hitter -- which means he's something special. He's an old fashioned, rough and tough, hard-nosed football player."[3] Fantetti played in 95 games for the Lions from 1979 to 1985.[2]

In 2008, Fantetti opened a barbecue restaurant called Big Ken's BBQ in Portland, Oregon.[4][5]

He was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.[1] Fantetti's biography at the Hall of Fame describes him as one of "greatest impact players" and "devastating linebackers" in Wyoming history.[1]

References
  1. "UW Athletics Hall of Fame". Wyoming Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  2. "Ken Fantetti profile". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  3. Larry Paladino (1979-05-01). "Lions Pleased With Draft Picks". Ludington Daily News.
  4. "Member profile: Ken Fantetti". Go Big Network. Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  5. "Big Ken's BBQ". Yelp. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
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