From 1918 to 1921, Anderson played as a guard for the Notre Dame football team, under coach Knute Rockne. From 1922 to 1926, he played for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Bears. In 1939, he coached for the Detroit Lions. Anderson was born in Calumet, Michigan and attended Calumet High School. He was 5'11" and weighed 170 lbs. Anderson was named to the National Football League 1920s All-Decade Team, and is only one of two players on the list not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1974.