Sport: Football
Born: February 26, 1949
Town: Asbury Park, New Jersey
Phillip James Villapiano was born February 26, 1949 in Long Branch and grew up in Asbury Park, NJ. His father, Gus, had played college ball for DePauw University and was Athletic Director at Asbury Park High. Phil made the varsity football squad as a sophomore and then transferred to Ocean Township High School, where his speed, aggression and football pedigree made him an excellent runner and tackler—and an instant pick as a team captain. Several colleges recruited Phil and initially he picked Maryland because of the Terrapins’ coach, Lou Saban. But when Saban left for the American Football League, Phil decided to go with Bowling Green State University in Kentucky, where he was a stand-up defensive end in a run-first conference.
The skills Phil developed shedding offensive linemen and tracking down ball carriers in four college seasons for the Falcons turned out to be ideal for his future NFL position. This became clear in his final college game, the Senior Bowl, when he was moved off the line and racked up a slew of tackles as a linebacker. The Oakland Raiders drafted Phil in the second round and he opted to sign with the Raiders over the Toronto Argonauts, who actually offered him more to play in the Canadian Football League. At 6’1” and 225 pounds with 4.6 speed, Phil looked like a quality linebacker on paper, but knew he had a lot to learn about playing the position in the NFL.
Phil thought he’d have time to ease into the lineup, but a spate of training-camp injuries landed him a starting role on opening day as a rookie. In a Week 3 Monday Night Football game, the Browns kept running plays at Phil and he kept stopping them. Howard Cosell shouted Vill-A-Piano! so many times, he practically became a household name. At season’s end, he was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Phil continued to make a name for himself with Oakland. He was picked to play in the Pro Bowl each year from 1973 to 1976. His fast, hard-hitting style made him a valuable member of the Raider defense, which raised the art of intimidation to new heights. Fellow New Jerseyans Art Thoms and Jack Tatum were also part of the silver and black gang. After several playoff disappointments, Oakland won the AFC Championship in 1976. They faced the Vikings in Super Bowl XI and Phil made a jarring tackle to complete a critical goal line stand, which opened the door to a 32–14 Raider victory.
Phil loved being a Raider and was heartbroken when Al Davis traded him to the Buffalo Bills in 1980. Nevertheless, he played well for the Bills and helped them reach the playoffs in 1980 and 1981. He called it a career following the 1983 season at the age of 34.
After football, Villapiano enjoyed a successful career in the logistics industry and gave his time and energy to a number of charitable organizations. He helped raise millions for ALS research and co-founded Save the Jersey Shore following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Phil also maintained his ties with the fans in Raider Nation, who long believed he deserved to be part of the Hall of Fame conversation. In 2018, he was named as an official candidate for enshrinement.