Sistrunk played three years for the Neptunes (the last two in the semi-pro Atlantic Coast Football League after the CPFL folded); in 1971, a Los Angeles Rams scout spotted Sistrunk and believed he could play in the NFL.[4] During a team practice, he was observed by representatives of the Oakland Raiders, who brought Sistrunk to their team in 1972.[4]
Sistrunk (60) and teammate Phil Villapiano (41) for local public transportation operator AC Transit's "Project Linebacker" anti-graffiti campaign, c. 1976.
During a Monday Night Football telecast, a television camera beamed a sideline shot of the 6'4", 265-pound Sistrunk's steaming bald head to the nation. That, along with the Raiders’ listing of his educational background in the team program as "U.S. Mars” (shorthand for United States Marine Corps), prompted ABC commentator and ex-NFL player Alex Karras to suggest that the extraterrestrial-looking Sistrunk's alma mater was the "University of Mars."[5]
After leaving football, Sistrunk spent two years as a beer salesman.[6] He was then approached about working with the Army as a civilian employee. He spent twelve years working at Fort Benning, Georgia.[6] Sistrunk now manages Cowan Memorial Stadium at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington and helps with athletic training programs.[6][4]
He also had a brief movie career, appearing as a short-order cook in Car Wash (1976) and in a non-sexual role (as a police officer) in Alex de Renzy's porn film Babyface (1977).[11][12]