Tony Washington (offensive lineman)

Tony Washington (born February 17, 1986) is a gridiron football offensive tackle for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.
Washington played one year of high school football as a junior while living in New Orleans. That year he was awarded with all-league honors as a member of the Alcee Fortier High School football team. His family moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. After graduating from high school, Washington did not plan to attend college. He decided to go to college, however, after a car salesman suggested he continue his football career. He then enrolled at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. While at Trinity Valley Washington served on the 2007 all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference first team.

Washington then attended Abilene Christian University, playing on the football team for two years. Both years he was voted the Lone Star Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year.

As a teenager, Washington was convicted of "prohibited sexual conduct" under Texas law after a consensual sexual relationship with his sister. As a result of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender and his conviction was made public. (Arrest of juveniles are otherwise sealed under Texas law). This conviction greatly hindered his efforts to gain a contract to play professional football.

Though Washington excelled at the NFL Draft Combine workouts he was undrafted. He was very agile and quick for a lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 5.09 seconds. After leaving school, Washington played for the Dallas Vigilantes of the Arena Football League for two years before signing with the Calgary Stampeders in 2011. He was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on July 4, 2012.

Washington was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos from the Argos in May 2014. In his first three seasons in Edmonton he started in 48 games for the club, including the 2015 Grey Cup championship victory. Following the 2016 season Washington signed a contract extension with the Eskimos.