{{Short description|American football player and coach (1964–1996)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Thomas Caterbone | position = Defensive back | number = | birth_date = {{birth date|1964|6|29}} | birth_place = Lancaster, Pennsylvania | death_date = {{death date and age|1996|4|29|1964|6|29}} | death_place = Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 8 | weight_lbs = 175 | high_school = Lancaster Catholic<br>(Lancaster, Pennsylvania) | college = Franklin & Marshall | undraftedyear = 1986 | pastteams = *Philadelphia Eagles (1987) | pastcoaching = * J. P. McCaskey HS<br>(Asst.) * Franklin & Marshall (1991–1995)<br>(WR) | highlights = *All-Centennial Conference (1985) | statseason = | statlabel1 = Punt returns | statvalue1 = 2 | statlabel2 = Return yards | statvalue2 = 13 | pfr = C/CateTh20 }}
'''Thomas Paul Caterbone''' (June 29, 1964 – April 29, 1996) was an American professional football defensive back and coach. He played in the National Football League as a replacement player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
==College career== Caterbone played four seasons at Franklin & Marshall College as a defensive back, return specialist and running back.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-footbl/Career_Stats/histseas.htm|title=F&M Football History|website=GoDiplomats.com|publisher=Franklin & Marshall College Athletics|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref> He was named an Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star and All-Centennial Conference as a senior.<ref name="obit"/> Franklin & Marshall awards the Thomas Caterbone '86 Memorial Award annually to the Diplomat player who "best exemplifies Tom Caterbone's love of football, the spirit of competition and enthusiasm for the game".
==Professional and coaching career== Following graduation Caterbone played for Harrisburg Patriots, a semi-professional team.<ref name="obit">{{cite news|title=Thomas P. Caterbone, 31, star football player, coach|newspaper=LNP|date=May 1, 1996}}</ref> He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in October 1987 as a replacement player during the 1987 NFL players strike and played in two games, returning two punts for 13 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/01/NFL-Strike-Rosters/1563560059200/|title=NFL Strike Rosters|work=United Press International|date=October 1, 1987|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CateTh20.htm|title=Thomas Caterbone Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref> Caterbone became a coach at J. P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster and later returned to Franklin & Marshall as a wide receivers coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-09-01-9113009163-story.html|title=FRANKLIN & MARSHALL DIPLOMATS|work=Baltimore Sun|date=September 1, 1991|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref> He also continued to play semi-professional football until 1995.<ref>{{cite news|title=The End Zone|first=Susan|last=Jurgelski|work=Lancaster New Era|date=January 16, 1997}}</ref>
==Personal life== Caterbone's older brother, Michael, also played defensive back at Franklin & Marshall and was also a replacement player during the 1987 season as a member of the Miami Dolphins as well as in the Canadian Football League. The Caterbone brothers are the only Franklin & Marshall football players to play in an NFL game since 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/franklinmarshall/|title=Franklin & Marshall Players/Alumni|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref> Caterbone died of an apparent suicide on April 29, 1996. "Tommy's Field", part of Amos Herr Park in East Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania, is named in honor of Caterbone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lancasteronline.com/news/children-at-play-on-tommy-s-field/article_ffe3f45b-49fb-51a9-9d4a-44b04b24aba1.html|title=Children at play on 'Tommy's Field'|first=P.J.|last=Reilly|work=LNP|date=October 14, 2003|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.godiplomats.com/sports/m-footbl/Career_Stats/caterbone Franklin & Marshall's Thomas Caterbone '86 Memorial Award]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Caterbone, Thomas}} Category:1964 births Category:American football defensive backs Category:Franklin & Marshall Diplomats football players Category:NFL replacement players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Players of American football from Lancaster, Pennsylvania Category:Franklin & Marshall Diplomats football coaches Category:1996 deaths Category:Coaches of American football from Pennsylvania Category:Suicides in North Carolina Category:20th-century American sportsmen