Tony Compagno
{{Short description|American football player (1921–1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tony Compagno
| image = Tony Compagno - 1948 Bowman.jpg
| caption = Compagno on a 1948 Bowman football card
| number = 44
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|1|29}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|4|8|1921|1|29}}
| death_place = San Mateo, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 199
| high_school = Jefferson (Daly City, California)
| college = Saint Mary's (CA)
| draftyear = 1943
| draftround = 21
| draftpick = 197
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1946|1948}})
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1949}})*
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 444
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.6
| statlabel3 = Receptions
| statvalue3 = 18
| statlabel4 = Receiving yards
| statvalue4 = 295
| statlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| statvalue5 = 7
| pfr = C/CompTo20
}}
Antone Compagno (January 29, 1921 – April 8, 1971) was an American professional football fullback who played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Steelers in the 21st round of the 1943 NFL draft after playing college football at Saint Mary's College of California.
Early life and college
Antone Compagno was born on January 29, 1921, in San Francisco, California.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/c/comp00400.html | title=TONY COMPAGNO | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 March 2025}} He attended Jefferson High School in Daly City, California. He was the first person ever inducted into the Jefferson High School Sports Hall of Fame. Compagno was also inducted into the Daly City Sports Wall of Fame in 2005.{{cite web | url=https://dcpal.org/daly-city-sports-wall-of-fame/ | title=Daly City Sports Wall of Fame | publisher=Daly City Police Athletic League | accessdate=22 March 2025}}
Compagno was a member of the Saint Mary's Gaels of Saint Mary's College of California from 1939 to 1942. He was invited to the East–West Shrine Game after his senior season.
Professional career
Compagno was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 21st round, with the 197th overall pick, of the 1943 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CompTo20.htm | title=Tony Compagno | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=22 March 2025}} After serving in the United States Army during World War II, he signed with the Steelers in 1946. He played in ten games, starting eight, during the 1946 season, totaling 67 carries for 217 yards and one touchdown, eight receptions for 101 yards, one interception, seven fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. Compagno appeared in all 12 games, starting four, in 1947, recording 34 rushing attempts for 126 yards and two touchdowns, nine catches for 190 yards and one touchdown, four interceptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and six fumbles. His two interception return touchdowns were the most in the NFL that season.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1947/leaders.htm | title=1947 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=22 March 2025}} He also played in, and started, one playoff game that year and rushed four times for nine yards. Compagno played in all 12 games for the second consecutive season, starting one, in 1948, totaling 24 carries for 101 yards, one reception for four yards, one interception for seven yards and a touchdown, five fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.
Compagno signed with the Washington Redskins in 1949.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/c/comp00400.html | title=Tony Compagno Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=22 March 2025}} However, he was released on September 12, 1949.
Personal life
Compagno was a high school sports official after his NFL career. He died on April 8, 1971, in San Mateo, California. He was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame on May 28, 1991.{{cite web | url=https://historysmc.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/559F6AE6-7B0C-4A82-969E-740563724090 | title=Tony Compagno Sports Hall of Fame Plaque | publisher=The San Mateo County Historical Association Online Collections Database | accessdate=22 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Steelers1943DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Compagno, Tony}}
Category:American football fullbacks
Category:Saint Mary's Gaels football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:People from Daly City, California
Category:Players of American football from San Mateo County, California
Category:Jefferson High School (Daly City, California) alumni
Category:20th-century American sportsmen