George Kenneally George Vincent " Gigi " Kenneally , Sr ( April 12 , 1902 – September 3 , 1968 ) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Pottsville Maroons , the Boston Bulldogs , the Chicago Cardinals , the Boston Braves , and the Philadelphia Eagles . He attended St . Bonaventure University . Early life . Kenneally began his athletic career at Boston Latin High School where he played varsity football , baseball , and held the city record for the fifty - yard dash . Upon graduating in 1919 he joined a group of local youths who were forming a semi - pro football team to play out of the local Knights of Columbus . He then followed his older brother and enrolled at St . Bonaventure , where in 1922 , he began his collegiate career . During his four years there he was given sixteen varsity letter s , including ones for boxing , as well as being the captain of the football team . Professional career . Pottsville Maroons / Boston Bulldogs . Kenneally joined the NFL in 1926 with the Pottsville Maroons of Pottsville , Pennsylvania . After his rookie season , he was chosen as the team ' s captain and was also named to his first All - Pro Squad in 1927 , as well as in 1928 . At the close of the 1928 season the team succumbed to financial difficulties and was no longer solvent . He , along with his partner , then decided to purchase the Maroons franchise for $ 2 , 500 . Kenneally then transferred the team to Boston where they became the Boston Bulldogs . Kenneally had many positions in the franchise ; that of part owner , assistant Coach , team captain and offensive end . The Bulldogs were a competitive team and would finish the season at 4 - 4 , but the Wall Street Crash of 1929 caused the team to fold . Chicago Cardinals . Kenneally was back in the NFL in 1930 , playing for the Chicago Cardinals . This season would prove to be one of his best in the league as he helped guide the struggling franchise to a 5 - 6 record , but also his only season for Chicago . The highlight of the season was an indoor exhibition game played at Chicago Stadium between the Chicago Bears and Cardinals with the proceeds aiding unemployment relief funds . Boston University . In 1931 , Kenneally accepted a coaching position at Boston University . He also utilized this sabbatical year by unsuccessfully trying to generate funds to restart his Bulldog franchise . He would lead the Marquette ’ s to an undefeated season with a schedule that consisted of two professional opponents . They outscored their opponents that season 236 to 9 . Boston Braves . In 1932 , Kenneally returned to Boston to play / coach for George Preston Marshall ' s Boston Braves . He played for the Braves for only one season as an offensive end and an assistant coach . Philadelphia Eagles . In 1933 , Kenneally left Boston with Lud Wray to play for and assist with the newly formed Philadelphia Eagles franchise . For the next three seasons , he would anchor the Eagles line , serve as the teams captain and assistant coach , and was again selected All - Pro during the 1934 season . He retired at the end of the 1935 season . After Football . Boston Shamrocks . Kenneally was offered the position of head coach and General Manager of the Boston Shamrocks of the newly formed American Football League . The Shamrocks would play a torturous 19 game schedule which resulted in them capturing the league title as AFL champions for the 1936 season . Unfortunately , the AFL was financially unstable and was soon forced to cease operations . The Shamrocks would continue to operate as an independent until 1938 . Later years . In 1939 , Kenneally accepted the position of athletic director , head coach , and history teacher at Revere High School . In 1950 he left the Revere athletic program in a vastly improved state and became the line coach at Brandeis University for four years . He then returned to his old job as head of the Social Studies department at Revere , the position he would hold until his death . Kenneally died on September 3 , 1968 .