The St. Louis Battlehawks are signing tight end Sal Cannella on Tuesday after placing tight end Tyler Neville on injured reserve on Monday, according to James Larsen.
Sal Cannella is six foot five and weighs 230 pounds. The 29-year-old from Schaumburg, Illinois, was released by the Arlington Renegades on June 17, 2025. The Cleveland Browns signed Cannella on June 20, 2025. Cannella made nine catches for 67 yards in three preseason games. He appeared in two regular-season games with two catches for 11 yards.
Cannella went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played two seasons for the Generals (TSL) in 2020 and 2021 with 25 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns in ten games, helping the Generals win the TSL Championship in 2020. He would then sign with the Miami Dolphins on August 2, 2021, but was released three days later.
Next, Cannella was drafted by the New Orleans Breakers (USFL) in the 34th round (265th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Cannella made 34 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns in ten games. In the South Divisional Semifinals against the Birmingham Stallions, Cannella made 12 catches for 154 yards. He was named to the All-USFL Team after the season.
The Green Bay Packers signed Cannella on July 21, 2022. Cannella made three catches for 31 yards in two preseason games. The Packers released him on August 30, 2022.
The Arlington Renegades drafted Cannella in the first round (7th pick) in Phase 1 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Cannella made 42 catches for 415 yards in ten games for the Renegades in 2023. In the playoffs, Cannella made six catches for 89 yards and one touchdown, helping the Renegades win the XFL Championship over the D.C. Defenders.
The Renegades released Cannella on August 21, 2023, and the Seattle Seahawks signed him on August 22, 2023. In 2023, he made one catch for five yards in one preseason game. The Renegades re-signed him on July 25, 2024. In 2024, he made 53 catches for 497 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He led the UFL in touchdowns (6) and was named to the All-UFL Team.
The Renegades released him on July 25, 2024, and he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on July 26, 2024. Cannella made two catches for 16 yards in three preseason games. The Buccaneers released him on August 17, 2024.
Cannella re-signed with the Arlington Renegades on February 25, 2025. In 2025, he made 44 catches for 474 yards, one touchdown, and four tackles (4 solos) in 10 games. He was named to the All-UFL Team in 2025.
Collegiately, Cannella played two seasons at Scottdale Community College (2015-16) with 29 catches for 443 yards and seven touchdowns in ten games for the Fighting Artichokes. Then, Cannella transferred to Auburn (2017-19) with 25 catches for 330 yards, five touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 37 games for the Tigers.
