 He then worked in the construction business with his father before joining the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference in the summer of 1947, despite having two years of college eligibility left.He barely made the team, but Brown, who had become the first coach of the Browns, called Gaudio "technically perfect" and said he had the speed and agility he wanted in a guard.As part of Cleveland's offensive line, Gaudio helped protect quarterback Otto Graham and open up running room for fullback Marion Motley.