Tony Eason

Infobox NFLretired


position=Quarterback
number=11
birthdate=birth date and age|1959|10|8
Blythe, California
deathdate=
debutyear=1983
finalyear=1990
draftyear=1983
draftround=1
draftpick=15
college=Illinois
teams=
* New England Patriots (1983-1989)
* New York Jets (1989-1990)
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=61-51
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=11,142
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=79.7
nfl=EAS332232

Charles Carroll "Tony" Eason, IV (born October 8, 1959 in Blythe, California) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for the New England Patriots and New York Jets. Eason retired after the 1990 NFL season and currently resides in California.

College career, and the famed 1983 NFL Draft

Eason played college football at the University of Illinois. There, he affectionately earned the nickname "Champaign Tony", based upon the city in which the university is located according to the press. It was rumored actually that he got his nickname from drinking four bottles of Champagne given to him by his friend and teammate, kicker Mike Bass, the night before a game against Indiana. "Champagne Tony" led the Illini the next day to a 48-7 victory over the hated Hoosiers of Indiana and earned the respect of his teammates as well as the long standing nickname.

He was drafted in the first round of the now famous 1983 NFL Draft (ie "Class of '83"), along with Hall of Fame quarterbacks Todd Blackledge , John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, and Ken O'Brien. The 1983 draft is still considered the greatest year for quarterback talent coming out of the college ranksFact|date=August 2007.

Professional career

Eason became the starting QB for the Patriots in 1984, taking over for longtime starter Steve Grogan.

In the 1985 season, Eason helped the Patriots clinch a playoff berth with a 34-23 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the season finale. Eason led the Patriots offense as they became the first team in NFL history to win three games on the road to reach the Super Bowl. He threw three touchdowns against the Marino-led Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game, the first time New England had beaten the Dolphins at the Orange Bowl since 1966.

The Patriots made their first appearance in a Super Bowl in franchise history that year, meeting the Chicago Bears with Jim McMahon and Walter Payton. The Bears' famed 46 defense defeated Eason and the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, and Eason became the first starting quarterback in Super Bowl history not to complete a pass, going 0-for-6. Eason was replaced with Grogan, but the Patriots lost the game 46-10. Eason led the Patriots to the AFC East title the following season, but was defeated in the playoffs by John Elway and the Denver Broncos.

Retirement

Eason played two more seasons in New England before being traded to the New York Jets during the 1989 NFL season. He would share quarterback duties his final season with yet another member of the "Class of '83", Ken O'Brien.