canadian football league hall of fame
The CFL has been a haven for American players who continue to play professional football at the highest level. Here are 10 Black college players who have been honored.
Playing career:
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1981-91
• Grey Cup Champions, 1986
• Traded to Hamilton Tiger Cats (1981)
from Montreal Alouettes (1981-91)
• CFL sack leader- 25, 1988
• CFL’s all-time sack leader- 157
• Inducted 2000
Grover COVINGTON
Defensive End
Johnson C. Smith University ’81
• Had 7 consecutive seasons with over 1000+ receiving yards (1989-1995)
• Career-high 1419 yards 1989
• First all-time in career receptions
• 3rd in career receiving yards
•Tied for 1st with 8 – 1000+ yard seasons
Donald NARCISSEE
Wide Receiver
Texas Southern University ’87
Awards/Honours
All-Western Receiver 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998
All-Canadian Receiver 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998
Northern All-Star Receiver 1995
Molson Cup 1994, 1995, 1998
Grey Cup Participation 1989, 1997
Grey Cup Winning Teams 1989
• Played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1950 -56)
• Led the league in rushing yards
• Gained 100 yards on a single play vs. the Saskatchewan Roughriders 1952
• Set a WIFU single season touchdown record
• Had 205 yards on pass interception returns
16 touchdowns to set a WIFU single season touchdown record
Dr. Thomas “Tom” CASEY
Running back
Hampton Institute
Awards/Honours
6-time Divisional All-Star |
The first African American to be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame 1964
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum 1993
All-Time Blue Bomber Greats 75th Anniversary team
• Played with seven different teams 1991- 2004
• Played in 189 regular season games, 17 playoff games, four Grey Cups
• Had 2nd highest career sacks in CFL history …154
•All-star and James P. McCaffrey Trophy winner, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1993
• 18 sacks in an all-star season with Grey Cup champion Baltimore Stallions
• 3-time All-Star with the Montreal Alouettes (1997, 1998 and 1999)
• All-Star, the Toronto Argonauts 2001
Elfrid PAYTON
Linebacker/Defensive End
Grambling State ’91
Awards/Honors
Grey Cup champion (1995, 2003
CFL All-Star 1993, 1995, 1997–99, 2001–002
CFL East All-Star 1993, 1997–98, 1999, 2001
CFL West All-Star 2002
Awards
James P. McCaffrey Trophy 1993
CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player 2002
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy 2002
Canadian Football League Hall of Fame 2010
• Spent eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1983- 1987, 1989-1991)
• Saskatchewan Roughriders(1992)
• B.C. Lions (1993)
• Still holds the Winnipeg career sack record (98)
• Grey Cup records for most sacks in a game (four)
• Most career Grey Cup sacks (five)
Harvey “Tyrone” JONES
Linebacker
Southern University ’83
Honors/Awards
Grey Cup champion (1984)
CFL All-Star 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Awards
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player 1984
CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award 1985
Honors
1984 & 1990 – Grey Cup Champion
Canadian Football League Hall of Fame 2012
• First Black player on the Montreal Alouettes 1946
• Play 12 seasons (147 regular season games) with the Larks (1946 -57)
• Seven-time Interprovincial Rugby Football Union All Star
• Played in 4 Grey Cup games (scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the Als 1949
• Grey Cup championship win against the Calgary Stampeders
• Played in the 3-game Grey Cup set vs. the Edmonton Eskimos (1954 -1956)
Herb TRAWICK
Offensive Lineman
Kentucky State University ’42
Awards/Honors
Grey Cup champion 1949
Trawick’s jersey #56 is one of seven retired by the Alouettes
CFL East All-Star 1946-1950, 1954-1955
Canadian Football Hall of Fame 1975
Kentucky State University Athletics Hall of Fame 1975
• Played entire CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders/the Winnipeg Blue Bombers|
• Three-time Division All-Star/Two-time CFL All-Star
• Finalist, Most Outstanding Defensive Player 1987
• 5th all-time in tackles – 400, 55 career sacks, 21 interceptions
• Played in 3 Grey Cup games (1988, 1990 champions)
James WEST
Linebacker
Texas Southern University ’82
Awards/Honours
CFL All-Star 1987, 1989
CFL East All-Star 1987, 1989
Grey Cup Participation 1988, 1990
Grey Cup Winning Teams 1988, 1990
Class of 2016
• Led SC State in tackles 1993
• One of the Bulldogs top all-time 100 players
• One of the CFL’s greatest defensive players
• Key player in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive front seven
• The Tiger-Cats’ all-time leader in tackles
Joe MONTFORD
Linebacker
South Carolina State University ’95
• Still holds Lincoln, Mo. school records for touchdowns in a season (22), touchdowns in a career (64), rushing yards in a season (1,239) and career rushing yards (4,457)|
• Three-time Black College All-American
• Six time- All-Pro
• College Football Hall of Fame
Leo LEWIS
Running back
Lincoln University, Missouri ’55
• Three-sports star in basketball, baseball, and track and field at St. Aug’s
• Great versatile player was three position All-Star:
• Miles returned 279 punts for 2,085 yards
• Had 88 kickoff returns for 2,131 yards
•Intercepted 38 passes for 547 yards
Roland “Rollie” MILES
Running Back/Defensive Back
St. Augustine’s College ’51
