George Connor was born in Chicago, and was not expected to survive infancy, weighing only three pounds at his premature birth.

[2] He played two years of college football at Holy Cross and was a second-team All-America selection by the Associated Press in 1943.

After the war, Connor was drafted in the first round, fifth overall by the New York Giants in 1946, but instead transferred to the University of Notre Dame to be closer to his ill father.

[9] At first exclusively a tackle on defense, in a game in 1949 Bears head coach George Halas ordered Connor to stand upright outside the end in an attempt to thwart the running of Philadelphia Eagles halfback Steve Van Buren.

The plan worked, as Connor held Van Buren in check and the Bears handed the Eagles their only loss of the season.