Billy Cannon

Billy Cannon. An American college football legend and professional player whose career was defined by spectacular athletic achievement and profound personal controversy. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1959 as a star for the LSU Tigers and helped lead the team to a national championship. His subsequent professional career in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) was overshadowed by legal issues, including a conviction for counterfeiting, that marked a dramatic fall from grace.

Early life and college career

Born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, Cannon moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he became a multi-sport standout at Istrouma High School. He enrolled at Louisiana State University and quickly became the focal point of the LSU Tigers football team under coach Paul Dietzel. His most famous play occurred on Halloween night in 1959 against Ole Miss, an 89-yard punt return in the fourth quarter that secured a 7–3 victory and is immortalized in collegiate lore. That season, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy, edging out players like Rich Lucas of Penn State. Cannon's efforts were instrumental in LSU's undefeated season and consensus national championship in 1958, a title solidified with a victory in the 1959 Sugar Bowl over Clemson.

Professional football career

Cannon was the first overall selection in the 1960 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, but he instead signed with the Houston Oilers of the rival American Football League. This move was part of the intense bidding war that characterized the early competition between the NFL and AFL. He was a key contributor to the Oilers' first two AFL Championship victories, playing alongside quarterback George Blanda and coach Lou Rymkus. After four seasons in Houston, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders where he was converted to tight end by owner Al Davis and coach John Rauch. He played in Super Bowl II for the Raiders against the Green Bay Packers and finished his professional career with brief stints for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons.

Legal troubles and later life

Following his retirement from football, Cannon earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and practiced orthodontics in Baton Rouge. His life took a dark turn in 1983 when he was convicted for his role in a multi-million dollar counterfeiting operation involving United States Treasury bills. He served two and a half years at the Federal Correctional Institution, Texarkana and was released in 1986. After his prison term, he regained his dental license and returned to practice, later working in the dental department at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana.

Legacy and honors

Despite his off-field troubles, Cannon's on-field legacy at LSU remains iconic. His number 20 jersey is retired by the university, and he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The annual game between LSU and Ole Miss is still played for the "Magnolia Bowl" trophy, a rivalry he helped define. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. His life story, encompassing the pinnacle of athletic fame and a stark public downfall, is a enduring and complex tale in the annals of American football.

Category:American football tight ends Category:LSU Tigers football players Category:Heisman Trophy winners