He also played for the New York Giants, winning Super Bowl XLVI with them over the New England Patriots in 2011, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Canty helped lead his team Charlotte Latin School to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship in 1999 on his way to earning All-Conference and All-State honors as a senior tight end and defensive end after recording 20 receptions for 400 yards and 89 tackles and seven sacks.
In 2004, he received his bachelor's degree in African American studies in May and took graduate course work in secondary education during his senior year.
While Canty said he was nothing more than a bystander in an altercation, he evidently was hit with a glass bottle in left eye, forcing him to have immediate surgery to repair a detached retina.
After working throughout the spring and summer to rehabilitate his knee and recover from the injured retina, Canty was on the field one week into training camp.
Canty played in the season opener at the San Diego Chargers and recorded his first NFL tackle along with a quarterback pressure.
At the New York Giants, he earned his first NFL start, replacing (Greg) Ellis at right end, and recorded four tackles.
He started, again, the next week against the Kansas City Chiefs and led all defensive linemen with five tackles despite suffering a sprained ankle during the game.
After the Cowboys made the decision to give a five-year extension to Jay Ratliff, on June 11, 2008 season, Canty signed a one-year tender offer worth $2.017 million to remain with the team.
He started all 16 games for a third consecutive year, producing 37 tackles (25 solo), 3 sacks and a career-high 5 passes defensed.
[7] On August 27, 2012, Canty was placed on the physically unable to perform list after it was determined he would need more time to recover from off-season knee surgery.
[10] Canty suffered a sprained MCL on December 23, against the Baltimore Ravens and missed the season finale.
[16] Source: [1] Canty's mother, Shirley, is an ordained United Methodist minister; his father, Joseph Sr., is retired.