Tributes paid to Tony ‘Goose’ Siragusa as Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman reported dead at 55

Tributes are being paid to Tony ‘Goose’ Siragusa, the Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman who has died at the age of 55.

Teammates of Siragusa, who won a Super Bowl title with the Ravens during the 2000 season, initially reported the death of the one-time player, who grew up in New Jersey.

There was no immediate cause of death given.

Reporters in Baltimore, where Siragusa spent the last five of 12 seasons in the NFL, said his death had been confirmed to them by several sources.

ESPN later said his death had also been confirmed by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, who said he was “heart broken as is all of Colts Nation”.

The news was first broken by TMZ. The 6ft 3in, 340-pound defensive tackle started his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1990 and became a full-time starter by the 1992 season.

Later, in 1997, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens, and went on to be an integral part of the team that famously won the Super Bowl in 2000.

“The Goose, Tony Siracusa has passed away at 5. I’m heart broken as is all of Colts Nation,” Irsay wrote on Twitter.

He added: “The Goose squeezed 200 fun loving years into 55!! He was one of the most physically strongest players I have ever seen in 50 years. In Greece, they would ask 1 question at the end of one’s life; Did He Have Passion? In Tony’s case.. Yes He Did!!”

The Goose squeezed 200 fun loving years into 55!! He was one of the most physically strongest players I have ever seen in 50 years