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.^[1] 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.^[2] Pellegrini graduated as valedictorian and enrolled at Harvard University.^[2]

At Harvard, Pellegrini played for the Crimson football team while also doing track and field.^[3] 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.^[1] Pellegrini tried returning to the football team in 1981, but was not invited to training camp by head coach Joe Restic.^[3] He instead earned his degree in geology.^[1]

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.^[1][2] He earned a first-year salary of $25,000.^[4]

Personal life

Pellegrini's younger brother, Dave, became an NCAA champion in the weight throw at Princeton.^[5] The two often competed against each other in Ivy League throwing events.^[6]