In a story that defies age, expectation, and convention, 58-year-old Tom Cillo has officially become a college football player — and not just in theory. On September 28, Cillo stepped onto the field for Lycoming College’s junior varsity team, lining up as a nose tackle against opponents more than 40 years his junior. The crowd roared, teammates cheered, and Cillo — salt-and-pepper beard and all — dropped into a three-point stance, ready to live a dream deferred for decades.
Cillo’s journey to the gridiron is anything but typical. A former city maintenance worker in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, he spent over 30 years keeping streets and parks clean. He battled addiction in his youth, skipped college, and never played organized football beyond a few high school practices. But after retiring and reflecting on missed opportunities, he decided to rewrite his story.
