Pat Ragusa

Patrick Agatino Ragusa (born March 17, 1963) is a Venezuelan-born former professional American football placekicker who played for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Born to Italian immigrants in Caracas, Venezuela, he spent most of his childhood in Sicily, Italy, before moving to the United States. He played college football for the St. John's Redmen and played three games for the Jets as a replacement player in 1987. He was also a member of the semi-professional Brooklyn Mariners and Connecticut Giants and had a stint with the New York Knights of the Arena Football League (AFL).

Early life Ragusa was born on March 17, 1963, in Caracas, Venezuela. He is one of only four Venezuelan-born National Football League (NFL) players, along with fellow placekickers Alan Pringle, Andrés Borregales, and José Borregales. Ragusa's parents were immigrants from Sicily, and when he was age two, his family moved back. He lived the next 10 years in the comune of Limina, with a population of 1,500. He immediately won the starting job for the St. John's Redmen football team as a freshman. He helped the 1981 St. John's team compile a record of 8–2 while winning the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Conference championship. He converted 12 of 20 extra point attempts during the 1981 season and then was a perfect 33 for 33 in 1982, helping St. John's repeat as conference champion with a 9–1 record, while Ragusa was selected to the league all-star team.

Ragusa remained starter in 1983, setting the school record for consecutive extra points made with 50 before missing an attempt against Pace. He was named all-conference at the end of the season and helped St. John's win their third-straight league title with a record of 9–2. He was kicked off the team prior to the 1984 season, due to missing the team's mandatory off-season weightlifting program. He helped them reach the league championship, where they lost to the defending champion New Jersey Rams. Ragusa returned to St. John's in 1985.

Professional career and later life After going unselected in the 1986 NFL draft, Ragusa received a tryout from the New York Jets on the suggestion of Dennis Bligen, a Jets running back who had played with Ragusa at St. John's. He appeared in preseason for the team, making each of his three extra point attempts, but was released on August 19, in favor of veteran Pat Leahy.

Ragusa was signed again for the 1987 season and competed with Leahy for the Jets' kicking job. During this time, he also worked as a gas station attendant. On September 23, he was re-signed by the Jets during the 1987 NFL strike as a replacement player. He made his NFL debut in the team's Week 4 game against the Dallas Cowboys, converting all three of his extra point attempts and his only field goal attempt in a 38–24 loss. He appeared in two further games, missing both of his field goal attempts in a 6–0 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, and then making all four extra point attempts and his one field goal attempt in a 37–31 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 6.

Ragusa re-joined the semi-professional Connecticut Giants following his stint with the Jets. He was later waived by the Knights on June 23, 1988. After Ragusa's football career ended, he worked for a time with East Rockaway High School as a special teams consultant.