Ken Casanega
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Alameda County, California, U.S.
Medford, Oregon, U.S.
 Casanega pictured in The Last Roundup 1942, Santa Clara yearbook | |||||||||||||
| No. 83 | |||||||||||||
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| Positions | Quarterback, Defensive back, Halfback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | February 18, 1921 Alameda County, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died | October 10, 2021 (aged 100) Medford, Oregon, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Castlemont (Oakland, California) | ||||||||||||
| College | Santa Clara (1938-1941) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1942: 3rd round, 16th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career AAFC statistics | |||||||||||||
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Kenneth Thomas Casanega (February 18, 1921 – October 10, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a quarterback for two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He played college football at Santa Clara University, having previously attended Castlemont High School in Oakland, California. He later was a school administrator.[1]
Kenneth Casanega attended Santa Clara University from 1938 to 1942, and played halfback for the Broncos' football team. In 1965, he was inducted into the university's athletic hall of fame.[2]
Naval service
Casanega was picked with the 3rd overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the 1942 NFL draft. He turned down the offer to serve his country as an U.S. Naval aviator during World War II.[2] Lt. (j.g.) Casanega served as a flier aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific,[3] taking part in raids over the Philippines and around Japan.[3]