Joseph Anthony Pellegrini (born April 8, 1957) is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons for the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons.
Pellegrini hails from Hingham, Massachusetts. He attended Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts, participating in football and track and field throwing events, though he admits he was not a great athlete. Pellegrini graduated as valedictorian and enrolled at Harvard University.
At Harvard, Pellegrini played for the Crimson football team while also doing track and field. He skipped his senior season in an attempt to qualify for the 1980 Summer Olympics as a discus thrower, training in West Germany, although he was ultimately unable to compete due to the boycott. Pellegrini tried returning to the football team in 1981, but was not invited to training camp by head coach Joe Restic. He instead earned his degree in geology.
In 1981, Pellegrini signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets after a tryout, though he was placed on injured reserve that season due to a back injury. He earned a first-year salary of $25,000.
Personal life
Pellegrini's younger brother, Dave, became an NCAA champion in the weight throw at Princeton. The two often competed against each other in Ivy League throwing events.