Rocco Canale Rocco Peter Canale ( May 1 , 1917 - November 1 , 1995 ) was a professional football player in the National Football League . During his pro career , he split time between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Boston Yanks . However was also a member of the " Steagles " , a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers due to the league - wide manning shortages in 1943 brought on by World War II . Canale ' s brawny physique earned him the nickname " the Walking Billboard " . Biography . Rocco was born in 1917 in Watertown , New York . He was the son of Nicholas and Josephine Marzano Canale . While attending Watertown High School , he joined the football and wrestling teams . He then quickly becoming one of the school ' s finest athletes . He graduated in 1939 and received a football scholarship to attend Boston College . College football . Prior to his professional career , Canale played at the college level while attending Boston College . There he played as an offensive and defensive lineman . His play would go on to earn him All - American and All - East honors . Canale ' s blocking and tackling abilities were key factors in Boston College ' s winning 26 of 31 games played during his varsity career . He was a member of the 1941 Sugar Bowl championship team and the 1943 Orange Bowl squad . He was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993 . Ed McMahon . Ed McMahon , who later became Johnny Carson ' s sidekick on " The Tonight Show " , met Canale while he was trying out for Boston College ' s football team . During a scrimmage , McMahon was assigned to play opposite Canale . While McMahon stopped him once , Canale soon afterwards hit him back even harder . This ended any dreams McMahon had of becoming a football player . ' He creamed me , ' McMahon once said , ' and I turned in my uniforms . Military service . In 1943 Canale was drafted into the Army , temporarily suspending a professional football career . After training at Greensboro , North Carolina , and Miami Beach , Florida , he was assigned to the First Army Air Force Fighter Command Headquarters located at Mitchell Field in Long Island , New York . He was promoted to corporal in 1944 . Canale ' s name is listed on the World War II Honor Roll , which lists the over 1 , 000 NFL personnel who served in the military during war . The listing of players has been enscribed on a plaque , located at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton , Ohio . Pro football . Canale was drafted in 1943 by , Eagles coach , Greasy Neale to play weekend ball with the Eagles . However 1943 saw the Eagles and Steelers merge to form the Steagles . That season , Canale played in seven games , and in the following year , he participated in nine more . HGis commanding officer was sympathetic to his desire to play pro football and allowed him to play with the Steagles . Realizing the football talent among them , the First Army Air Force Fighter Command asked him play on its team . He played seven games with the Army in 1945 while still playing four professional football games with the Eagles . In 1946 , he asked to be traded to the Boston Yanks and played for that team for the rest of his career . Although he decided to return to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1948 , an injury ended his football career . Post football . Family business . After his playing career ended due to an injury , Canale returned home to Watertown to co - manage with his brother , Richard , Canale ' s Restaurant , the family business . He was the restaurant ' s president for 30 years . Watertown Red and Black . Canale coached the Watertown Red & Black football team , the oldest semi - pro football team in the United States , for three seasons . He ended his coaching career with a 23 - 2 record . In 1981 , he received the Old Timers Certificate of Appreciation by the Red and Black Team of Watertown . Politics . Canale was active in the Republican Party during the 1960s . He was named chairman of the GOP Rally in honor of State GOP Comptroller Candidate John P . Lomenzo . In 1962 , he was appointed administrative assistant to Senator Henry A . Wise , aiding the former senator while the New York Legislature was in session . Family . Rocco married Eleanor M . Hilden of Boston , Massachusetts , on December 7 , 1943 . The couple gave birth to two children Marcia Canale - Bracken and Nicholas R . Canale , both of whom still live in Watertown . Scholarship . A scholarship was later created by Canale ' s wife in his name . It provides Jefferson Community College students who are pursuing an associate ' s degree in physical education the financial opportunity they need to some day coach young adults or become professional athletes .