Sisto Joseph "Joe" Averno (May 12, 1925 – March 26, 2012) was an American football guard and linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the original Baltimore Colts (1950) and the franchises which succeeded it, including the New York Yanks (1951), Dallas Texans (1952), and the second iteration of the Baltimore Colts (1953–1954).

[2] With America embroiled in World War II, Averno enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1943,[1] eventually serving a three year term of duty.

[2] Averno was sent to the Service School at Pontiac, Michigan, where he was promoted to gunner's mate, third class, and given more advanced training.

[2] He played football at Muhlenberg for four years at the tackle and guard positions, earning the accolades of his coach, Howard Baughman.

[8] Averno joined the first iteration of the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 1950.

[9] He would play one exhibition game for the Browns against the College All-Stars in Chicago that August before being traded to the New York Yanks for a future draft pick.

The new club, initially identifying itself as the Dallas Rebels before deciding upon the moniker "Texans," advanced a contract to Averno for the 1952 season in May, which the lineman deemed satisfactory and signed.

[11] Averno played middle guard — essentially nose tackle in a five man defensive front — for the Texans in 1952, starting 11 of the team's 12 games in that position.

[10] The team's finances were precarious, however, and following the season its assets were sold to news franchise owners in Baltimore headed by industrialist Carroll Rosenbloom.

[10] The Colts finished with a record of 3–9 for the year, exceeding popular expectations and beating the neighboring Washington Redskins to boot.

On October 15, after just three games of the season, Averno was released by the Colts, who picked up former Washington Redskin Gene Pepper to fill his roster space.

[16] In 1953, as his career was nearing a close, Averno told a friendly journalist with The Baltimore Sun: "It's a tough racket, this pro football, but I love it.