Anthony Chickillo

BIOGRAPHY

Anthony Chickillo was born on December 10th, 1992, in Tampa, Florida. He is an outside linebacker in the NFL. In his early years, Chickillo attended Tampa Gaither High School during his sophomore season, where he recorded 80 tackles and 9.5 sacks. After his sophomore season, Chickillo transferred to Braulio Alonso High school where he was a Five-star prospect according to Rivals.com and ESPN. He also was ranked by Rivals.com and ESPN as third and fifth at the position, and 44th and 24th overall nationally by Rivals.com and ESPN. In 2011, Chickillo was the MVP of the Under Armour All-American game at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay area. In his first year at Braulio Alonso High School, Chickillo recorded 0 tackles, 12.5 sacks, six PBUs, two forced fumbles and fumble recovery in only six games, while as a senior, he totaled 140 tackles, 18 sacks, and two interceptions. 

After he finished high school, Chickillo committed to the University of Miami where as a true freshman in 2011, Chickillo saw action in all 12 games, including starts in the final nine contests of the season. He finished the season with the seventh-most tackles on the team with 38, 15 of them being solo, and tying for the team lead with five sacks. Chickillo recorded his first career sack against Ohio State. As a sophomore in 2012, Chickillo started all 12 games along the defensive line. He was one of nine Canes to start every game and one of only three on defense and was also one of six Hurricanes to earn All-ACC honorable mention from league coaches. At the end of the season, Chickillo ranked eighth on the team with 45 tackles and third with 6.5 tackles-for-loss for team-high 31 yards lost. He also led the team with 4.0 sacks for 24 yards lost. As a junior in 2013, Chickillo started all 13 games at defensive end and finished the season recording 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, and seven QB hurries. In his senior season in 2014, Chickillo started the season-opener at Louisville, recording 5 solo tackles and recorded his first sack of the season against Cardinals resulting in five-yard loss and forced the second fumble of his career. In his final start for Miami, Chickillo totaled three tackles, including 13-yard sack in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl against South Carolina.

After he graduated from college, Chickillo entered the 2015 NFL Draft where he was selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers and on May 11th, the Steelers signed Chickillo for a four-year contract. During his rookie season, Chickillo appeared in seven games during the regular season, recording 6 special teams tackles. He made his NFL debut against the Arizona Cardinals on October 18th. On November 8th against the Oakland Raiders, he recovered his first career fumble on special teams that was forced by FB Roosevelt Nix, and on January 3rd at Cleveland, he forced his first career fumble on special teams that was recovered by CB Brandon Boykin. In 2016, Chickillo played in 15 games with seven starts and totaled single-season career-highs in sacks with 2.5, forced fumbles with 2, and recorded 5 special teams tackles during the regular season. On October 9th against the New York Jets, Chickillo recorded his first career sack and forced a fumble, taking down QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, and on October 16th at Miami, he started his first career game. In 2017, Chickillo played in all 16 games with two starts during the regular season. He finished the season with a career-high 3.0 sacks, along with 14 tackles and one pass defended and added 5 special teams tackles. On September 10th at Cleveland, Chickillo recovered a punt blocked by Tyler Matakevich in the end zone for the team’s first touchdown of the season. He also sacked  QB DeShone Kizer twice, marking the first multi-sack game of his career, increasing his career total to 4.5, and tied a single-game career-high with 6 tackles. In the 2018 season, Chickillo saw action in all 16 games, registering 18 tackles, where 7 were solo, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries and three QB hits and added 6 special teams tackles during the regular season. On September 16th at Kansas City, Chickillo registered the first defensive fumble recovery of his NFL career, forced by DT Cameron Heyward. On March 12th, 2019, Chickillo signed a two-year contract extension with the Steelers.