Dante Magnani

Dante Alfred Magnani (March 16, 1917 – December 23, 1985) was an American professional football halfback who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Rams (1940–1942), Chicago Bears (1943, 1946, 1949), Los Angeles Rams (1947–1948), and Detroit Lions. He was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl in 1942 and ranked among the NFL's statistical leaders in 1942 and 1943.

Magnani also played service football for the 1944 Bainbridge Commodores football team and college football for the St. Mary's College from 1936 to 1939.

Early life Magnani was born in 1917 in Dalzell, Illinois. As a child, he moved with his family to Vallejo, California. He attended St. Mary's Prepareatory School and then enrolled at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. He played college football for the St. Mary's Gaels football team from 1936 to 1939. He was a member of the 1938 Saint Mary's Gaels football team that defeated Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

Professional football Magnani was selected by the Cleveland Rams in the 19th round, 175th overall pick, of the 1940 NFL draft. He played three seasons in Cleveland from 1940 to 1942. In 1942, he was selected for the Pro Bowl and ranked among the NFL leaders with 24 receptions (third) for 276 yards and four receiving touchdowns (fourth), 620 yards from scrimmage (fifth), 897 all-purpose yards (seventh), 344 rushing yards (eighth), and five touchdowns (ninth).

In April 1943, the Rams withdrew from the NFL, and Magnani joined the Chicago Bears for the 1943 season. He again ranked among the NFL leaders with a 79-yard rush (first), 6.1 rushing yards per attempt (second), a 96-yard kick return (second), and 310 rushing yards (10th). He spent the 1947 and 1948 seasons with the Rams.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the first known use of the word scatback was in reference to Magnani.

NFL career statistics Legend Won the NFL Championship Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1940 RAM 11 4 7 19 2.7 - 0 11 119 10.8 25 1 1941 RAM 9 8 24 128 5.3 29 0 14 189 13.5 61 1 1942 RAM 11 10 59 344 5.8 71 1 24 276 11.5 67 4 1943 CHI 10 7 51 310 6.1 79 2 6 88 14.7 51 1 1946 CHI 10 7 68 277 4.1 32 0 14 156 11.1 38 1 1947 RAM 12 3 48 178 3.7 27 0 4 57 14.3 40 1 1948 RAM 8 1 38 144 3.8 15 0 3 28 9.3 16 1 1949 CHI 6 1 33 59 1.8 9 0 3 29 9.7 15 0 1950 DET 7 0 3 7 2.3 5 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 84 41 331 1,466 4.4 79 3 79 942 11.9 67 10

Playoffs Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1943 CHI 1 1 2 6 3.0 - 0 4 122 30.5 66 2 1946 CHI 1 1 0 0 0.0 - 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 2 2 6 3.0 - 0 4 122 30.5 66 2

Later life In 1952, Magnani returned to Vallejo, California, where he operated a beer distribution business. He retired in 1982. He was also an organizer of the NFL Alumni Association. was inducted into the St. Mary's Athletic Hall of Fame. He died on December 26, 1985, at age 68 from congestive heart failiure at his home in Vallejo.