Fritsch Dies at 60
 

Ex-Cowboys kicker Fritsch dies at 60

Associated Press
Posted: 34 minutes ago



VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Toni Fritsch, a former Austrian soccer player who switched sports and became an NFL place-kicker, died Tuesday. He was 60.

Peter Klingelmueller, a spokesman for Rapid Vienna, the soccer club on which Fritsch played for 14 years, confirmed Fritsch's death. The Austria Press Agency reported that Fritsch collapsed and died of heart failure in Vienna after eating at a restaurant.

Fritsch played in nine matches for the Austrian national soccer team and, in 1965, scored two goals for Austria as it defeated England 3-2 in London. Six years later, he moved to the United States after having been recruited by the Dallas Cowboys.

In an interview last year, Fritsch recalled how he had never seen a football before meeting with the Cowboys' recruiter. A translator followed him during the early days of practice to help him understand the game.

He played for the Cowboys from 1971-1973 and in the 1975 season, helping the club win the Super Bowl in 1972 and reaching the game again in 1976, but losing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. He scored 758 points in 125 games during his 11-year NFL career, 317 for Dallas.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/4867586

Note to self: Don't piss off the chef when visiting Vienna.



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