Paul Brown, Cleveland's head coach, waived him before the 1949 season, and he retired from professional football.

[2] The following year, he joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and trained as a cryptographer.

[3] He served for two years in the China Burma India Theater, returning to Maruqette in 1945 to complete his studies.

[5] Later that year, he joined the Cleveland Browns, a team under formation in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC), along with three former Marquette teammates, John Harrington, George Groves and Wilfred Kramer.

[9] Before the beginning of the 1949 season, Cleveland coach Paul Brown released Maceau on waivers, allowing other teams to pick him up.