He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press All-Big Ten football team.
[3] After graduating from St. Joseph's, Cannivino enrolled at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1977 where he played football under head coach Bo Schembechler through the 1980 season.
[4][5] Prior to his senior year, Cannavino was selected by his teammates as the co-captain of the 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team.
[5] Cannavino was named the Midwest Player of the Week on defense in September 1980 after helping Michigan to a 17–10 win against Northwestern.
[10] In February 1982, he was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles,[10] but he was released at the end of August 1982 shortly before the start of the regular season.
[12] In April 1984, the Panthers traded Cannavino to the Chicago Blitz, also of the USFL, in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice.