When he returned from the war in 1946, he served primarily as a running back, and in 1949 became the third player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season.

After his playing career, Canadeo worked as a color commentator for CBS television, covering Packers games with Ray Scott.

He also was a long-time member of the Green Bay Packers, Inc. Board of Directors and Executive Committee, most notably during the Vince Lombardi era.

Others honored included New York Yankees' center fielder Joe DiMaggio and golfer Gene Sarazen.

[5] As a senior in 1940, Canadeo starred in Gonzaga's 13–7 upset win over the heavily favored University of Detroit in November.

[9][10] Contemporary Jim Benton called him one of the three toughest players to tackle, alongside Frank Sinkwich and Steve Van Buren.

[12] This versatility caused Packers head coach Curly Lambeau to take notice, despite Gonzaga being a smaller college.

Lambeau looked to use Canadeo to bolster a backfield that included aging stars Clarke Hinkle and Arnie Herber.

[14] He starred in an exhibition game against the New York Giants, as he and Frank Balasz led a scoring march through a muddy field in the third quarter.

When scolded by one of his coaches for passing so close to the goal line, Canadeo quipped, "Cecil Isbell tossed a four-incher not long ago for a record and I wanted to beat it – you don't get an opportunity like that very often.

He and Harry Clarke of the Bears battled for the rushing title late in the season,[21] but Canadeo ultimately finished fifth in the league in yardage.

[25][26] Canadeo returned in 1946, and in February he and several other Packers players received offers to play in the All-America Football Conference, a rival league to the NFL.

Sharing running back duties with Billy Grimes in 1950 under new head coach Gene Ronzani, Canadeo was fourth on the team in rushing yards,[31] but scored four touchdowns.

In addition to his accomplishments on offense, Canadeo recorded nine career interceptions on defense, and before the war was the team's primary punter.

His number (3) was retired immediately after he left the NFL in 1952, preceded by Don Hutson (14) in 1951 and followed by Bart Starr (15) in 1973, Ray Nitschke (66) in 1983, Reggie White (92) in 2005, and Brett Favre (4) in 2015.

[38] After his playing career, Canadeo continued his association with the Packers as a television color analyst—calling the team's games with Ray Scott on CBS in the 1960s—and a member of the organization's executive committee.