By Darin In the storied history of the USC Trojans, few players have earned higher praise than Paul Cleary. A man whose career was defined by both physical toughness and profound sacrifice, Cleary left the gridiron to serve his country in the Pacific during World War II, only to return and dominate the collegiate ranks. His legendary coach, Jeff Cravath, famously called him the greatest end to ever wear the cardinal and gold—a bold statement for a program that would eventually become a factory for NFL superstars.
Football Bio
February 7, 1922 – North Loup, Nebraska – The University of Southern Cal’s brilliant end, Paul Cleary was born. Paul started at Santa Ana Junior College in 1941 and 1942. He played there until his football career was interrupted by service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Upon his return, he went to USC. The FootballFoundation.org website bio of Cleary states that he was All-America in 1947, and his coach, Jeff Cravath, said, “He’s the finest end who ever played at Southern California.” Paul Cleary was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 after the National Football Foundation tallied its votes.
Conclusion
Paul Cleary represents the “Greatest Generation” of football players—men who balanced the violence of the trenches with the duty of military service. His post-war return to USC was nothing short of spectacular, leading the Trojans to a Rose Bowl and earning the highest possible accolades from those who coached him. Today, Cleary is remembered as a cornerstone of USC’s defensive and offensive legacy, a true Hall of Famer whose grit helped define the identity of the Trojans in the 1940s.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- Consensus First-Team All-American (1947)
- College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 1989)
- 1948 Rose Bowl Participant (USC vs. Michigan)
- First-Team All-Pacific Coast Conference (1947)
- USC Team Captain (1947)
- Voted USC’s “Finest End” by Hall of Fame Coach Jeff Cravath
- NFL Draft Pick (Selected 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 1948)
- Military Service Award (U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II – Pacific Theatre)
