Italians have played for every team across all the divisions of the NFL since it was founded in 1920.
To kick off Super Bowl Week, America Domani analyzed thousands of players, coaches, and front-office executives of Italian descent. We selected one for each of the 32 teams. We have broken it down by division, in both the NFC and the AFC.
Below are the names of the greatest Italians of the AFC North
Italians of the AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco
Born and raised in Audubon, New Jersey, Joe Flacco comes from a tight-knit Italian family. His father, Giuseppe L “Joseph” Flacco is Italian. Flacco’s Grandparents come from Isola del Gran Sasso, a Province of Teramo, Abruzzo. Flacco played 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He currently plays for the New York Jets.
Cincinnati Bengals: Massimo Manca
Massimo Manca was born on the island of Sardinia. His family moved to the United States when he was 10 years old. Two years later, Manca returned to Italy to complete his eighth and ninth years of schooling. When he returned to the United States, he went to Reno High School, where he started playing American Football as a Junior. In 1987, Manca was signed as an undrafted Free Agent for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played as a kicker. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
Cleveland Browns: Sam Rutigliano
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sam Rutigliano is the child of Italian Immigrants. Rutigliano played football for Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn. After high school, Rutigliano would go on to become the defensive backs coach at the University of Connecticut. Once in the NFL, he would be the assistant coach to the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints, before becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1978.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Franco Harris
Franco Harris is often considered "the greatest Italian American Footballer," to ever play the game. Harris is Italian from his mother, Gina Parenti Harris, who became a "war bride" after moving to the United States with her husband. He was drafted 13th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the first round of the 1972 draft. Harris' most notable play is "The Immaculate Reception," which happened during Super Bowl IX against the Minnesota Vikings.