Chris Cantwell

My Grandfather Was Tackled by Gerald Ford

The top photo is of Gerald Ford (C, LB), taken in 1933 during his days playing for the University of Michigan football team, taken from this great National Archives post.

The bottom photo is my grandfather, Francis Robert Cantwell (DE, TE), born 1914, during his days playing for the University of Illinois football team (1932-1936).

My grandfather, who died in 1987, was also “big man on campus,” much like Gerald Ford was. In fact, the local men’s clothing store in Champaign-Urbana would lend him clothes to wear around the school.

Many times my grandfather faced off against Gerald Ford on the line of scrimmage. He often reminded the family of this. “You know, I was nose-to-nose with Ford on several occasions.”

My dad’s reply to this nostalgic pigskin story was always, “Well, Dad, why weren’t you President of the United States?”