5 Wildest Behind-the-Scenes Stories Joey Diaz Told About 'The Longest Yard' (2005)

For many fans, the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard is a modern comedy classic, blending Adam Sandler's signature humor with a surprising amount of star power from the worlds of comedy, music, and professional wrestling. Yet, for Cuban-American comedian and actor Joey "CoCo" Diaz, who played the memorable inmate "Big Tony," the experience was far more chaotic and life-altering than any viewer could imagine. As of this current date in late 2025, Diaz frequently revisits the movie's production on his podcasts and interviews, revealing the hilarious and sometimes shocking reality of working on a major Hollywood set alongside legends and a locker room full of WWE Superstars. This deep dive uncovers the most outrageous stories that cemented his role in cinema history and provided endless fodder for his stand-up.

Joey Diaz's performance as the tough-talking, perpetually hungry inmate Big Tony remains a fan favorite, delivering one of the film's most quoted lines. However, the true legacy of his time on the set lies in the incredible anecdotes he has shared over the years, detailing everything from on-set roughhousing with Hollywood royalty to the sheer mayhem caused by the professional wrestlers in the cast. These stories offer a unique, unfiltered look into the high-stakes, high-energy environment of a Happy Madison production, proving that what happened off-camera was often funnier—and crazier—than what made it into the final cut.

Joey "CoCo" Diaz: The Unfiltered Biography and Profile

José Antonio Díaz, known universally as Joey "CoCo" Diaz, is an iconic Cuban-American stand-up comedian, actor, podcaster, and author whose life story is as raw and compelling as his comedy. His career trajectory from a troubled youth to a beloved entertainment figure is a testament to his resilience and unique voice.

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• Full Name: José Antonio Díaz
• Stage Name: Joey "CoCo" Diaz, Uncle Joey
• Date of Birth: February 19, 1963
• Place of Birth: Havana, Cuba
• Hometown: North Bergen, New Jersey
• Career Highlights (Acting): The Longest Yard (2005), Spider-Man 2 (2004), My Name Is Earl, Everybody Hates Chris, Taxi (2004), Grudge Match (2013), and The Many Saints of Newark (2021). [cite: 6, 15 from step 1]
• Podcast Career: He is the former host of the immensely popular podcast The Church of What's Happening Now and currently hosts Uncle Joey's Joint with Joey Diaz. [cite: 5, 18 from step 1]
• Distinct Style: Known for his abrasive, honest, and often hilarious storytelling style, drawing heavily from his tumultuous past and time spent in prison.

The Role of Big Tony: A Career-Defining Character

In The Longest Yard (2005), Joey Diaz was cast as Big Tony, one of the inmates recruited to play for the "Mean Machine" football team, led by Paul "Wrecking" Crewe (Adam Sandler). [cite: 10, 17 from step 1]

The role was significant for Diaz at the time, marking his biggest feature film appearance yet and a major step up from smaller parts in films like Spider-Man 2. Big Tony is characterized by his size, his perpetually perplexed expression regarding the sport of football, and his memorable one-liners.

The Immortal Big Tony Quotes

Despite being a supporting character, Big Tony delivered some of the film's most quotable and enduring lines, which fans still reference today. These lines perfectly encapsulate the character's confusion and comedic timing:

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• "Foot... ball... tree... outs. What the hell's a tree-out? Try-out, you half a meatball!" [cite: 12 from step 2]
• "Can a corn. Can a corn I'll be fine." (Said while being checked out by the medic, a line often cited by fans as one of his best.) [cite: 7 from step 2]

Diaz’s comedic delivery, honed over years in stand-up clubs, made Big Tony an instantly recognizable and hilarious part of the ensemble cast, securing his place in the Adam Sandler cinematic universe.

The 5 Wildest Behind-the-Scenes Stories from the Set

The true legend of Joey Diaz's time on The Longest Yard is not just his on-screen performance, but the incredible, uncensored stories he has shared on platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience and Uncle Joey's Joint. These anecdotes paint a picture of Hollywood chaos, camaraderie, and a clash of comedic and wrestling cultures.

1. The Infamous Run-In with Burt Reynolds

Perhaps the most shocking story involves Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds, who starred in the original 1974 film and played Coach Nate Scarborough in the remake. Diaz has recounted a moment where Reynolds, known for his on-set intensity, physically "roughed up" the younger comedian. [cite: 7 from step 1, 5 from step 2]

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According to Diaz, the incident was a moment of intense, old-school Hollywood energy, where Reynolds—in character or just being himself—got physically aggressive during a scene. While it sounds frightening, Diaz has always told the story with a mix of awe and terror, viewing it as a bizarre rite of passage from a screen legend. This story highlights the generational gap and the raw, unpredictable nature of the set.

2. The Absolute Mayhem of the Wrestlers' Locker Room

The cast was famously stacked with professional wrestlers, including Bill Goldberg, Kevin Nash (Guard Engleheart), and The Great Khali (Turley). Diaz has described the locker room atmosphere as pure, unadulterated chaos. [cite: 2, 4 from step 2]

He has hilariously detailed how the wrestlers, accustomed to a high-octane lifestyle, were "f***ed up" and crazy, leading to continuous, unpredictable situations on and off the set. This environment of massive personalities and physical performers created a constant source of tension and comedy, giving Diaz a wealth of material for his stand-up and podcasts. The sheer size and energy of the wrestling contingent provided a stark contrast to the comedians like Adam Sandler and Chris Rock.

3. The Director's Advice That Changed His Career

Diaz has often spoken about his deep conversations with director Peter Segal (known for Tommy Boy and Anger Management) during the production. Segal, recognizing Diaz’s talent and struggle, gave him direct, life-changing advice. [cite: 11 from step 1, 14 from step 2]

Segal reportedly encouraged Diaz to focus on his sobriety and harness his life experiences into his creative work. This guidance served as a major turning point, inspiring Diaz to take his comedy and acting career more seriously and to clean up his life, transforming his perspective on the industry.

4. The Heartbreak of "Thinking It Would Change My Life"

In a more poignant reflection, Diaz has confessed that he genuinely believed The Longest Yard, being his largest role to date and a major studio film, would instantly catapult him to A-list status. [cite: 9, 16 from step 1]

When the film wrapped and the immediate, life-altering fame didn't materialize, Diaz experienced a period of deep disappointment. This realization—that true success is a grind and not a single movie—became a central theme in his later comedy and his "Church of What's Happening Now" philosophy, teaching resilience and the long game of show business.

5. The Adam Sandler Connection and Camaraderie

Despite the chaos, Diaz has always expressed profound gratitude for Adam Sandler and the Happy Madison team. His collaboration with Sandler was a major professional boost, leading to a lasting relationship. [cite: 10 from step 1]

Diaz recounts the genuine camaraderie on set, noting that Sandler created a relaxed, fun atmosphere despite the scale of the production. The trust Sandler placed in him, allowing him to improvise and bring his unique personality to Big Tony, was instrumental in making the character so memorable and setting the stage for Diaz's subsequent television and podcasting success.

The Lasting Legacy of Big Tony

While The Longest Yard was a commercial hit, its true cultural impact for Joey Diaz was its role as a launchpad. The film not only provided him with a highly visible role but also gave him the platform and the material to build his empire. The stories from the set—the wildness of the wrestlers, the intensity of Burt Reynolds, and the mentorship from Peter Segal—became the foundation of his podcasting career, which is where his fame truly exploded.

Today, Diaz is celebrated less for his film roles and more for his unfiltered, hilarious storytelling on Uncle Joey's Joint. However, every time a fan quotes "Try-out, you half a meatball," the legacy of Big Tony is reignited, proving that sometimes, the supporting character has the biggest story to tell.