Green Bay Packers legend Tony Canadeo never played in Lambeau Field, but his legacy is present in the stadium.
Canadeo is one of six players to have his number retired by the Packers, so his name and No. 3 can been seen by all of the fans in attendance at games.
Fans have to enter the team’s Hall of Fame inside the stadium to see a football with his likeness as well as his actual jersey in another area of the facilty that is framed next to the uniforms of Don Hutson and Bart Starr. Canadeo is honored outside the stadium as part of the Oneida Nation’s Walk of Legends.
Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974, Canadeo played 11 years for the Packers from 1941-44 and 1946-1952. His 1951 Bowman football card is the oldest in my collection and one of my favorites.
Canadeo did everything on the field for the Packers. He played offense, defense, punted and returned kicks in his career.
Born in Chicago in 1919, which is ironically the same year the Packers were established, Canadeo played college football at Gonzaga University.
The man known as the “Grey Ghost” didn’t come to Green Bay with a lot of national accolades. He was drafted in the ninth round in 1941 by the Packers and signed in May of that year.
However at that time, Tony’s football exploits were well known in the Green Bay community thanks to his brother Saviour, who was a boxer and a 1940 graduate of St. Norbert College. Saviour was inducted into the St. Norbert Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1986.
When his career ended, Canadeo was the all-time leading rusher for the Packers 4,197 total yards. That number is currently fourth behind Ahman Green (2000-06,09) with 8,322 yards, Jim Taylor (1958-66) with 8,207 and John Brockington (1971-77), who finished with 5,024.
Selected as an All-Pro in three times in 1943, 1947 and 1949, Canadeo joined the Packers Hall of Fame in 1973. He would later be a part of the board of directors serving in several positions until is death in 2003.
During Curly Lambeau‘s final season in 1949, Canadeo became the third player in the history of the National Football League and first Packer to reach the 1,000-year rushing plateau.
Unfortunately for Canadeo, his 1,052 yards rushing that season was second best to Philadelphia’s Steve Van Buren who finished a record 1,146 yards. Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears was the first NFL player to accomplish the feat in 1934 with 1,004 yards, while Van Buren was second with 1,008 in 1947.
World War II
As with many athletes during World War II, Canadeo did his part.
After being discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1943, he joined the Packers for his third season. The team finished 7-2-1 as he led the squad in passing and rushing yardage. He also had two interceptions on defense.
Canadeo left the Packers after three games during the 1944 season for a stint in the U.S. Army. That year, the Packers won the NFL Championship with a 14-7 win over the New York Giants.
In 1946, Canadeo returned to Green Bay and continued his career until he was honored at his final home game in 1952.
According to a story in the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Nov. 24, Canadeo spoke to the crowd in City Stadium prior to a 42-14 Packers win over the Dallas Texans.
“I’ve always been proud to be a Packer and today more so than ever, I can’t remember what I was going to say but I want to thank all of the fans everywhere for making this day possible.”
Canadeo scored twice that day as he grabbed a 21-yard pass from Tobin Rote and then ran 10 yards for his second touchdown of the afternoon in the third period.