Canadeo, "Tony" (Anthony R.)
Football
b. May 5, 1919, Chicago, IL
d. Nov. 28, 2003
At 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds, Canadeo was neither exceptionally fast nor particularly elusive, yet he became the first member of the Green Bay Packers and only the third NFL player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Canadeo was a seventh-round draft choice in 1941 after playing for little Gonzaga University in Washington. He joined the team primarily as a backup to tailback Cecil Isbell, but became a starter in 1943. After spending 1945 in the service, he returned to the Packers as a running back in the newly-installed T formation. His premier season was 1949, when he rushed 208 times for 1,052 yards, a 5.1 average, and 4 touchdowns.
During his last 3 seasons, 1950 through 1952, Canadeo was usually used as blocking fullback and didn't carry the ball often. He retired after 1952 with an impressive set of statistics: 4,197 yards on 1,025 carries, a 4.1 average, and 26 touchdowns; 69 receptions for 579 yards and 5 touchdowns; 105 completions in 268 attempts for 1,642 yards and 16 touchdowns; 45 punt returns for 509 yards; 71 kickoff returns for 1,626 yards; 9 interceptions and 129 yards in returns; and 45 punts for a 37.0 average.