Sal Cannella (American football)

Last updated

Sal Cannella
Sal Cannella (cropped).jpg
Cannella with the Renegades in 2023
No. 87 – Cleveland Browns
Position Tight end
Roster status Practice squad
Personal information
Born (1996-12-02) December 2, 1996 (age 28)
Schaumburg, Illinois, U.S.
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school St Viator
(Arlington Heights, Illinois)
College Scottsdale CC (2016)
Auburn (2017–2019)
NFL draft 2020: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Salvatore Cannella (born December 2, 1996) is an American professional football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft he signed with the TSL Generals of The Spring League (TSL). He also played for the Green Bay Packers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL, and the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).

Contents

Early life

Cannella was born in Schaumburg, Illinois, but grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He reportedly did not play football his junior year at high school at St. Viator High School, in order to focus on basketball. [1]

College career

Cannella attended Scottsdale Community College where he hauled in 29 receptions for 443 yards and seven touchdowns over 10 games. On September 3, 2016, Cannella had a career high six catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Glendale Community College. [2] In 2017, he transferred to Auburn. [3] His first touchdown with the Tigers came on a six-yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham against no. 6 Washington on September 3, 2018. [4] On January 1, 2020, in the Outback Bowl against Minnesota Cannella caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix. Cannella appeared in 37 games over three seasons for the Tigers and had 25 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns.

College statistics

SeasonGamesReceiving
GPRecYardsAvgTD
Scottsdale CC
2016 102944315.27
Auburn Tigers
2017 1133110.30
2018 13121119.23
2019 131018818.82
Career 475477314.312

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m)		242 lb
(110 kg)		32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.74 s1.65 s2.75 s4.33 s7.15 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)		20 reps
All values from Pro Day [5]

Cannella was an undrafted free agent exiting the 2020 NFL draft, and did not sign with a team. [6]

TSL Generals

Cannella played in the 2020 The Spring League Fall season for the TSL Generals. [7] In 2020, Cannella had 12 receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns in just three games. He also had an additional five catches for 66 yards and one touchdown in the championship game. [8] He was a key part of the Generals championship winning team in 2020, and as a result earned a workout with the Indianapolis Colts. [9] [10] However, Cannella did not sign, and returned to the Generals for the 2021 The Spring League season. [9] In 2021, Cannella caught eight passes for 97 yards. [11] Following the season, he was invited to a mini-camp held by the Chicago Bears but did not sign. [6] [12]

Miami Dolphins

On August 2, 2021, Cannella signed with the Miami Dolphins, and spent four days on the roster before being cut. [6] [13] [14]

New Orleans Breakers

Cannella was drafted number 2 overall in the tight end's phase of the 2022 USFL draft by the New Orleans Breakers. [15] During the season, Cannella accumulated 34 receptions for 368 yards, with two touchdowns, and was named to the All-USFL Team. [16]

Green Bay Packers

On July 20, 2022, the Green Bay Packers announced that they had signed Sal Cannella. [17] [18] Cannella was cut by the team on August 16, 2022. [19]

Arlington Renegades (first stint)

Cannella was drafted 7th overall in the Skill Positions Phase of the 2023 XFL Draft by the Arlington Renegades. [20] He was the first tight end selected. [20] During the regular season, he was targeted 63 times and made 42 receptions for 415 yards. [21] He was the Renegades' leading receiver, and was also second among receiving yards for tight ends, behind only Cody Latimer. [21] He later won the 2023 XFL Championship Game with the Renegades. [22] He was released from his contract on August 21, 2023. [23]

Seattle Seahawks

On August 21, 2023, Canella signed with the Seattle Seahawks. [24] He was waived on August 27. [25]

On October 10, 2023, the Minnesota Vikings hosted Cannella for a workout, but no deal was reached. [26]

Arlington Renegades (second stint)

On February 25, 2024, Cannella re-signed with the Renegades. [27] Cannella finished the season and led the league with a career-high six receiving touchdowns. He finished first among tight ends with 497 receiving yards and 53 catches. [28]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cannella signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on July 25, 2024. [29] He was waived on August 27. [30]

Arlington Renegades

On February 25, 2025, Cannella re-signed with the Renegades. [31] On June 2, Cannella was selected to the All-UFL Team. [32]

Cleveland Browns

On June 19, 2025, Cannella signed with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. [33] He was waived on August 24 and re-signed to the practice squad three days later. [34] [35]

Career statistics

Legend
Led the league
League champion
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamLeagueGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2022 NO USFL 1093436810.8392
2023 ARL XFL 107424159.8310
2024 ARL UFL 106534979.4466
2025 ARL 10104447410.8401
Career 40321731,75410.1469

Postseason

YearTeamLeagueGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2022 NO USFL 111215412.8250
2023 ARL XFL 2168914.8411
Career321824313.5411

References

  1. ↑ Blum, Sam (July 26, 2019). "Inside the crazy story of how Sal Cannella got to Auburn". al.
  2. ↑ "Salvatore Cannella". accac.org. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Auburn 2017 Football Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Washington vs Auburn Box Score, September 1, 2018". sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sal Cannella College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "What to know about new Packers TE Sal Cannella". Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  7. ↑ Martorano, Dion (November 10, 2020). "Generals' Cannella, James, Dennis Battle in The Spring League – Journal & Topics Media Group". Journal & Topics Media Group – Journal & Topics Media Group | Serving Chicago's Great Northwest Suburbs. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ The Spring League 🏈 [@TheSpringLeague] (December 17, 2020). "Generals statistical leaders from the #TSL2020 Championship Game vs Aviators: QB Bryan Scott: 22/32, 263 yds, 3TD, 28 rush yds, TD RB Darnell Holland: 5 rush/51 yds WR Kelvin McKnight Jr.: 7 rec/67 yards TE Sal Cannella: 5 rec/66 yds, TD WR Jordan Suell: 4 rec/100 yds, TD https://t.co/2OksptN6X3" (Tweet). Retrieved January 19, 2024– via Twitter.
  9. 1 2 Inabinett, Mark (May 6, 2021). "Football returns on Thursday with the Spring League". al. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Colts held tryout for TE Sal Cannella". Colts Wire. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2021 Generals Stats". footballdb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ Farner, Keith (August 2, 2021). "Former Auburn TE Sal Cannella lands with new NFL team". Saturday Down South. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Former Auburn TE Sal Cannella signs with the Miami Dolphins". Auburn Wire. August 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ Schad, Joe (@schadjoe). "Dolphins sign TEs Sal Cannella and Kalif Jackson." 2 August 2021, 10:54 a.m. Tweet.
  15. ↑ "USFL 2022 Draft Results". USFL Newsroom. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  16. ↑ Hill, Kassidy. "Green Bay Packers sign USFL standout tight end Sal Cannella before training camp begins". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Former Auburn TE Sal Cannella gets shot with Green Bay Packers after USFL success". CBS 42. August 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ Huber, Bill (July 21, 2022). "Packers Sign Tight End Sal Cannella". Sport Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Packers cut five players, including TE Dafney". www.ballysports.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "XFL Draft Tracker". XFL Newsroom. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "XFL Player Stats". www.xfl.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Sal Cannella Heads To XFL Championship With Stunning Upset – Journal & Topics Media Group". Journal & Topics Media Group – Journal & Topics Media Group | Serving Chicago's Great Northwest Suburbs. May 2, 2023.
  23. ↑ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Arlington Renegades TE SAL Cannella Signs with Seattle Seahawks". OurSports Central. August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Seahawks Waive Seven Players". Seahawks.com. August 27, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Vikings Work Out QB Colt McCoy, 7 Others on Tuesday". si.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  27. ↑ "UFL Player Transactions, Sunday February 25, 2024". UFLBoard.com. February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  28. ↑ "UFL RECEIVING STATISTICS". June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  29. ↑ Smith, Scott (July 25, 2024). "Bucs Add Former UFL Tight End Sal Cannella". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  30. ↑ Smith, Scott (August 27, 2024). "Bucs Cut Down to 53, Place Chase Edmonds, Rakim Jarrett on IR". Buccaneers.com.
  31. ↑ @UFL_PR (February 25, 2025). "Breaking: The DC Defenders have signed DB Kelvin Joseph, per the wire" (Tweet). Retrieved February 25, 2025– via Twitter.
  32. ↑ "UFL Announces 2025 All-UFL Team". The UFL. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  33. ↑ Russo, Kelly. "Browns sign TE Sal Cannella". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Browns waive 17 players, terminate contracts of 4 players". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 24, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Browns awarded 2 players via waivers, sign 9 to practice squad". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
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