 Casanega pictured inThe Last Roundup 1942, Santa Clara yearbook | |||||||||||||
| No. 83 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | (1921-02-18)February 18, 1921 Alameda County, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died: | October 10, 2021(2021-10-10) (aged 100) Medford, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Castlemont (Oakland, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Santa Clara | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1942: 3rd round, 16th pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Kenneth Thomas Casanega (February 18, 1921 – October 10, 2021) was an American professionalfootball player who was aquarterback for two seasons with theSan Francisco 49ers of theAll-America Football Conference (AAFC). He playedcollege football atSanta Clara University, having previously attendedCastlemont High School inOakland, California. He later was a school administrator.[1]
Kenneth Casanega attendedSanta Clara University from 1938 to 1942, and played halfback for the Broncos' football team. In 1965, he was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame.[2]
Casanega was picked with the 3rd overall pick by thePittsburgh Steelers at the1942 NFL draft. He turned down the offer to serve his country as an U.S. Naval aviator during World War II.[2] Lt. (j.g.) Casanega served as a flier aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific,[3] taking part in raids over the Philippines and around Japan.[3]
Casanega joined the original San Francisco 49ers off theAll-America Football Conference in 1946. He played in all 14 games (starting 5) as a running back, with 29 rushes for 90 yards and 1 touchdown, plus 5 receptions for 102 yards and 1 touchdown. He also returned 18 punts for a 13.8-yard average and three kicks for a 20.3 average. As a defensive back in 1946, he tallied 8 interceptions. In 1948 he played in 1 game, his last in the AAFC, with no statistics.[2]
Casanega became a school coach and administrator, and a principal for 15 years, atNapa High School.[4][5] In the early 1970s he became superintendent in the Hollister School District inHollister, California. He retired in 1981[6] and turned 100 in 2021.
Upon the death ofCecil Souders on August 31, 2021, Casanega became the oldest living NFL player.[7] Casanega died inMedford, Oregon on October 10, 2021, at the age of 100.[8]