He played college football at the University of Detroit Mercy where he was selected as a first-team All-American in 1940.

He also played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Cardinals from 1942 to 1950, and for the Detroit Lions from 1951 to 1953.

[7] Banonis was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1942 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick.

[8] Banonis' football career was interrupted for three years by wartime service in the United States Navy during World War II.

In 1951, Banonis was traded by the Cardinals to the Detroit Lions in exchange for offensive lineman Jack Simmons.

[8] The Lions signed center Joe Schmidt in 1953, and Banonis appeared in his last professional football game that year at age 32.