Education
Cantwell stepped in and completed 3 of 5 passes for 66 yards, helping the Cardinals to a 41-17 victory.
Cantwell stepped in and completed 3 of 5 passes for 66 yards, helping the Cardinals to a 41-17 victory.
After playing college football for the Louisville Cardinals, he was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He spent most of the 2009 season on the team"s practice squad, and was promoted to the active roster late in the season. Cantwell was signed to the Baltimore Ravens" practice squad in 2010 and 2011 before becoming the quarterbacks coach for Campbellsville University.
Cantwell prepped at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky, where he became the school"s all-time passing leader, completing 458-756 passes, for 7,272 yards, and 70 Territorial Decoration. He set the Kentucky 3-A state playoff record for passing yards in a game (409) while going 31-8 as a starter.
Cantwell walked on to the Louisville Cardinals football team prior to the 2005 season. On November 25, 2005, QB Brian Brohm injured his leg in a game against Syracuse and was out for the rest of the season.
In the 2006 Gator Bowl against Virginia Technical Hokies, Cantwell played well, throwing for 216 yards and 3 Territorial Decoration. He was voted the Cardinals Most Valuable Player of the Gator Bowl. On September 16, 2006, after Brohm suffered a thumb injury against Miami, Cantwell went into the game and completed 3 of 4 passes for 113 yards and 1 Territorial Decoration. Louisville defeated Miami, 31-7.
Cantwell started the next two games for the Cardinals, both on the road, against Kansas State and Middle Tennessee State.
Against the Blue Raiders, Cantwell completed 17 of 32 passes for 340 yards and 3 Territorial Decoration, leading the Cardinals to a 44-17 rout. Cantwell helped lead the Cardinals in winning games for most of the 2006 regular season. In 2007, Cantwell played sparingly in a disappointing 6-6 season for the Cardinals.
After leading the team to a 5-2 start, the Cards lost their last five games to finish 5-7, making it the first time since 1996-1997 the Cardinals football team missed a bowl game in consecutive years.
Carolina Panthers
After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, Cantwell signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
The Panthers promoted Cantwell to the active roster on December 24 after quarterback Jake Delhomme was placed on injured reserve. Cantwell was waived during final cuts on September 4, 2010.
Baltimore Ravens
On September 5, 2010, Cantwell was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, waived on September 9, 2010, and then signed back onto the practice squad on September 14, 2010.
Cantwell was cut September 3, 2011, and signed to the practice squad again the next day. On September 29, Cantwell was cut from the Ravens" practice squad. Cantwell had a contract offer from the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 offseason, but chose instead to become the quarterbacks coach for the Campbellsville University football team