Tony was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 5, 1919. He played his college football at Gonzago and played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers 1941-44 and then again from 1946-52. Tony was a multi-talented two-way performer who became the third back to passthe 1,000 yard mark in one season and was All-NFL in 1943 and 1949. Tony was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Anthony Robert Canadeo. . .Gonzaga Little All-America, 1939. . . Multi-talented two-way performer. . .Averaged 75 yards all categories in 116 NFL games. . .Led Packers air game, 1943. . . Used as heavy-duty runner on return from service, 1946. . . Became third back to pass 1,000-yard mark in one season, 1949. . .All-NFL, 1943, 1949. . . Career record: 4,197 yards rushing, 1,642 yards passing, 186 points, 69 pass receptions. . .Born May 5, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois. . .Died November 29, 2003 at age of 84.

Tony Canadeo from little-known Gonzaga University was an unsung ninth-round choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1941 but it wasn't long before he earned the reputation of being a budding superstar who could – and would – do anything on a football field.

He played offense and defense, ran with the ball, threw passes, caught passes, returned punts and kickoffs, punted and intercepted passes. In 11 years, he rushed for 4,197 yards, passed for 1,642 yards, recorded 69 receptions for 579 yards, gained 513 yards on punt returns, 1,736 on kickoff returns, and scored 186 points.

Altogether the versatile Canadeo gained 8,667 multi-purpose yards. Putting it another way, he accounted for almost 75 yards in each of the 116 games he played. Add to that, he also intercepted 9 passes and punted 45 times during his remarkable career. Green Bay from 1941 through 1944 was one of pro football's premiere football teams. During that period, Tony initially served as an understudy to veteran quarterback Cecil lsbell. Then in 1943, he became the Packers' No. 1 passer. That year he was also named to the official All-NFL team. In 1945,World War II interrupted Canadeo's pro career.

When he returned from the Army in 1946, the Packers no longer were contenders and Canadeo’s role was significantly different. For his final seven seasons in the league, Tony became a heavy-duty running back and, predictably, came through with flying colors. In 1949, he became only the third player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He won All-NFL acclaim for a second time.

Small by pro standards, Canadeo was neither particularly fast nor elusive. Because he was prematurely gray, he was popularly known as "The Gray Ghost of Gonzaga." But Tony employed the attributes of most great athletes – determination, courage and tenacity – to attain Hall of Fame stature.

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