Sunday, February 12th the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers kick off in Super Bowl LVII. This week, America Domani looked through players, coaches, and front-office executives of Italian descent. We were able to find a member of each team that has Italian lineage.
Below are the names of the greatest Italians of the AFC East.
Italians of the AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Phil Villapiano
Phil Villapiano was the linebacker was on the other side of the "Immaculate Reception" by Franco Harris. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, starting with the Oakland Raiders in 1971. Villapiano is often called one of the fastest linebackers of his era. He has also been inducted into the Italian Hall of Fame.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine Marino was born to Italian and Polish parents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marino played 17 seasons as quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, setting many records over the course of his career. He became A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, six-time first- or second-team AP All-Pro, and All-AFC six times, Marino was voted Rookie of the Year. He is currently an executive of the Miami Dolphins since 2014.
New England Patriots: Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri's great-great-grandfather was an Italian Immigrant, with a lineage of German and English ancestry. Vinatieri joined the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent, playing as a kicker. He scored the winning kick during the AFC Divisional Playoff game in blizzard conditions and had the winning kick in Super Bowl XXXVI. He would do this again during Super Bowl XXXVIII, forever being a contributor to the Patriots' dynasty.
New York Jets: Bill Parcells
Born to an Italian mother and an Irish Father, Bill Parcells served as head coach for the New York Jets and Giants for 19 years. His maternal grandparents were Italian immigrants from Napoli. He would bring the New York Giants to the Super Bowl within 4 years of joining the team. As the New York Jets head coach, he turned the team around, helping the team get to the playoffs in 1998 with a record of 12-4. This was the franchise's best record at the time.
AJ Forrisi
Assistant Editor for America Domani, AJ Forrisi is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer. His work focuses on food, travel, sports, landscapes, and urban scenes. You can find him on Instagram @aj.photo.works.