Position: Center, Guard Name Phil Costa Siblings Richard Costa, Jr. Roster status: Retired 40 yard dash time 5.12 seconds | Undrafted: 2010 Height 1.91 m Weight: 302 lb (137 kg) Role American football center | |
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Date of birth: (1987-07-11) July 11, 1987 (age 28) Place of birth: Moorestown Township, New Jersey Parents Richard Costa, Helen Costa Education Holy Cross Academy, University of Maryland, College Park Similar People Brooke Hogan, Jason Garrett, Nick Hogan, Chuck Pagano, Jim Caldwell | ||
Phil Costa (born July 17, 1989) is a former American football center and guard in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Maryland.
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Early years
Costa played high school football at Holy Cross High School, where he was a starting guard who played in every game during his three seasons on the team.
He accepted a scholarship from the University of Maryland, where he was a two-year starter, playing mostly guard until his senior season when he started at center.
Dallas Cowboys
Costa was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after the 2010 NFL Draft. He began as the fourth string center, with Kyle Kosier and Travis Bright ahead of him, but when Kosier got hurt and Bright struggled, Costa became the primary backup. He impressed the coaching staff and made the opening day 53-man roster. As a rookie, he earned his first career start at left guard in place of the injured Kyle Kosier and Montrae Holland, in the seventh game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He performed well during the 2011 training camp and preseason, before suffering a strained right posterior cruciate ligament on August 24, 2011. After contract restructuring negotiations fell through, five time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode was cut before the fourth preseason game and Costa became the starting center for the year. Because of his small size for the position, as the season wore on he was exposed and struggled in his blocking assignments against bigger defenders.
In 2012, the Cowboys signed free agents guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings to help protect Costa against stronger defensive fronts. Ryan Cook replaced him in the season opener after one series, because he was limited by a back injury he carried from training camp. He returned to play against the Baltimore Ravens and arguably had his best game as a pro, with the Ravens yielding a franchise record 227 rushing yards. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, he suffered a partially dislocated ankle and was eventually placed on the injured reserve list, after playing only six quarters in the season.
Looking to improve the center position, the Cowboys selected Travis Frederick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft and moved Costa to a backup role during training camp. He was eventually waived in a salary cap move on March 7, 2014.
Indianapolis Colts
Costa signed a two-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts on March 13, 2014. He unexpectedly retired at the age of 26 on April 21.
Personal life
Costa became engaged to singer, actress, model, reality show personality, and former professional wrestler Brooke Hogan (daughter of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan) on June 29, 2013 in Las Vegas. On November 24, 2013, Hogan called off the engagement.