Sam Cjinanovich was a star linebacker at the University of California Lutheran (1970-72) where he is a member of their Athletic Hall of Fame. Cvijanovich had a tryout with the San Francisco 49ers but was released and then played a year of semi-pro ball at Los Vegas.
After a year out of playing footblal, Cvijanovich joined the Toronto Argonauts in 1974 and had an outstanding rookie season. Cvijanovich recoreded 7 interceptions and had two fumble recoveries to win the Outstanding Rookie award in the CFL. Unfortunately, that was the peak of Cvijanovich's CFL career. He played two more seasons in Toronto (1975-76), recording three more interceptions and two more fumble recoviers total in those two years. Cvijanovich played one more season in the CFL, splitting 1977 between the Ottawa Rough Riders and the BC Lions.
| Year | Team | GP | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long | FR | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | TOR | 16 | 7 | 53 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1975 | TOR | 16 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 24 | |||
| 1976 | TOR | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1977 | BC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1977 | OTT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
