Former Miami Dolphins tailback Tommy Vigorito passed away earlier Tuesday according to a post his former high school made.
Vigorito, who was best known as a small tailback who primarily handled punt return duties for the Dolphins from 1981 to 1985, died at the age of 65.
Vigorito, a high school Parade All-American at DePaul Catholic High School in Passaic, New Jersey was drafted by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1981 draft out of the University of Virginia.
Miami acquired the draft pick they used to select Vigorito, who finished his career as Virginia’s second all-time leading rusher with 2,912 yards, from Philadelphia after sending third-year tailback Leroy Harris to the Eagles.
For his career, Vigorito contributed 79 punt returns for 830 yards and scored two touchdowns for the Dolphins. He also had 59 receptions for 439 yards (7.4 per catch) and scored two receiving touchdowns, along with gaining 215 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Vigorito became a fan favorite because of his limited size (5-foot-10, 193 pounds) and his no-fear attitude on returns.
His career was cut short when he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the 1983 season opener. That was during an era before ACL surgeries were perfected, therefore the rehab wasn’t always successful.
Vigorito missed the entire 1984 but returned in ’85, but by then Miami had added receivers Mark Duper and Mark Clayton and tailback Lorenzo Hampton, a first-round pick in 1985, who all inherited his role in his absence.
Vigorito never played for another NFL team after the 1985 season.