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We already knew Anthony Muñoz, the football player.

Muñoz, the No. 1 draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980, played 13 seasons in the NFL, was named to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls, played in two Super Bowls and five seasons after retiring, he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He is the greatest Bengal, without question.

On Friday night, before a standing-room-only crowd of more than 400 at SouthBrook Christian Church in Centerville, Muñoz switched from player to preacher. From football to faith.

And he's equally as effective off the field.

Outside the game

During his 40-minute lecture, Muñoz, 48, displayed why other football hall of famers regularly volunteer to appear at his foundation events, why his speaking engagement calendar is crowded, why he's constantly doing Furniture Fair commercials, and why he's never mentioned in the police blotter.

He represents everything we want in our professional athletes, our heroes, our role models. The only similarity between Muñoz and, say, Chris Henry, or any of the other troubled Bengals, is they played football.

Muñoz played football most of his life. He appreciates the opportunities his athletic ability provided, and he's smart enough to realize the rest of his life will be judged by his accomplishments outside the game.

You can't play football forever.

"What is going to define Anthony Muñoz?" he asked. "What kind of legacy do we want to leave? Do I want to be known as a guy who played 13 seasons, made 11 Pro Bowls and played in two Super Bowls? Is that it? What's important is who I am off the football field and with Christ. Where would we be without our relationship with God? That's all it's about."

New direction

Muñoz was one of five children raised by a single mother in southern California. He never met his father, who was in and out of prison, and probably never will, he said.

A three-sport high school athlete, Muñoz received a football scholarship at USC, about 35 miles from his hometown. His career there was marred by three knee operations. Following his freshman season at USC, Muñoz said a man introduced him to the Lord.

"It was the first time I had heard someone say Jesus Christ that way," he said.

After the laughter stopped, he added: "You know what I mean. I need Jesus Christ in my life. I had messed up things enough."

Setting a standard

Bill Kinane, owner of the Manor House Banquet and Conference Center in Mason, financially supports the Anthony Muñoz Foundation, which benefits inner-city youth.

Muñoz doesn't smoke, doesn't drink, and has been married to the same woman, DeDe, for 29 years. They have two children, Michael, 25, and Michelle, 23, who received athletic college scholarships, graduated from USC and Ohio State, respectively, and are now married.

"He sets the standards for all of us," Kinane said. "He raises the bar for all of us. You don't have to worry about seeing his face on the 11 o'clock news."

Unless he's doing charitable work.