TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the CFL. The results were announced as part of the 2006 Grey Cup festivities in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Top 50
The panel voted on a list of 185 players, including 119 named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame on the basis of performance since 1945, and 66 others identified during a three-month research process. Brothers Doug Flutie and Darren Flutie bookended the top 50, while Damon Allen (professional gridiron football's all-time leading passer at the time; his record was surpassed on October 10, 2011 by Anthony Calvillo, who did not make the list), Milt Stegall (the CFL's all-time leader in touchdown receptions), Terry Vaughn (the CFL's all-time leader in receptions at the time; his record was beaten by Ben Cahoon in October 2010), and Joe Montford (perennial all-star defensive end), were still active when named to the list.

Note: Canadian players |
Rank | Name | Position(s) | Years in CFL[lower-alpha 1] | GP[lower-alpha 2] | Team(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Doug Flutie | QB | 1990–1997 | 136 | BC, Calgary, Toronto |
2. | George Reed | RB | 1963–1975 | 203 | Saskatchewan |
3. | Jackie Parker | QB, RB, DB, K | 1954–1968 | 173 | Edmonton, Toronto, BC |
4. | Mike Pringle | RB | 1992–2004 | 188 | Sacramento, Baltimore, Montreal, Edmonton |
5. | Warren Moon | QB | 1978–1983 | 94 | Edmonton |
6. | Garney Henley | DB, WR | 1960–1975 | 216 | Hamilton |
7. | Ron Lancaster | QB | 1960–1978 | 288 | Ottawa, Saskatchewan |
8. | Russ Jackson | QB | 1958–1969 | 167 | Ottawa |
9. | Wayne Harris | LB | 1961–1972 | 132 | Calgary |
10. | Allen Pitts | SB | 1990–2000 | 176 | Calgary |
11. | Dan Kepley | LB | 1975–1984 | 138 | Edmonton |
12. | John Helton | DL | 1969–1982 | 219 | Calgary, Winnipeg |
13. | Hal Patterson | WR | 1954–1967 | 80[lower-alpha 3] | Montreal, Hamilton |
14. | Damon Allen | QB | 1985–2007 | 350[lower-alpha 4] | Edmonton, Ottawa, Hamilton, Memphis, BC, Toronto |
15. | Milt Stegall | SB | 1995–2008 | 163[lower-alpha 4] | Winnipeg |
16. | Willie Pless | LB | 1986–1999 | 229 | Toronto, BC, Edmonton, Saskatchewan |
17. | John Barrow | OL, DL | 1957–1970 | 192 | Hamilton |
18. | Tony Gabriel | WR | 1971–1981 | 168 | Hamilton, Ottawa |
19. | Johnny Bright | FB, LB | 1952–1964 | 157 | Calgary, Edmonton |
20. | Brian Kelly | WR | 1979–1987 | 137 | Edmonton |
21. | James Parker | DE, LB | 1980–1991 | 161 | Edmonton, BC, Toronto |
22. | Chris Walby | OL | 1981–1996 | 254 | Montreal, Winnipeg |
23. | Less Browne | DB | 1984–1994 | 174 | Hamilton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, BC |
24. | Dave Fennell | DL | 1974–1983 | 154 | Edmonton |
25. | Gizmo Williams | KR, WR | 1986–2000 | 200 | Edmonton |
26. | Sam Etcheverry | QB | 1952–1960 | 122 | Montreal |
27. | Tommy Joe Coffey | WR, K | 1959–1973 | 197 | Hamilton, Edmonton, Toronto |
28. | Grover Covington | DE | 1981–1991 | 168 | Hamilton |
29. | Leo Lewis | RB | 1955–1966 | 161 | Winnipeg |
30. | Lui Passaglia | K, P, WR | 1976–2000 | 408 | BC |
31. | Pinball Clemons | RB, KR | 1989–2000 | 185 | Toronto |
32. | Roger Aldag | OL | 1976–1992 | 271 | Saskatchewan |
33. | Dickie Harris | DB | 1972–1982 | 134 | Montreal |
34. | Normie Kwong | FB | 1948–1960 | 157 | Calgary, Edmonton |
35. | Marv Luster | DB | 1961–1974 | 183 | Montreal, Toronto |
36. | Ray Elgaard | SB | 1983–1996 | 220 | Saskatchewan |
37. | Angelo Mosca | DL | 1958–1972 | 160 | Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal |
38. | Larry Highbaugh | DB | 1971–1983 | 195 | BC, Edmonton |
39. | Matt Dunigan | QB | 1983–1996 | 194 | Edmonton, BC, Toronto, Winnipeg, Birmingham, Hamilton |
40. | Joe Montford | DE | 1995–2006 | 185 | Shreveport, Hamilton, Toronto, Edmonton |
41. | Kaye Vaughan | OL | 1953–1964 | 166 | Ottawa |
42. | Mervyn Fernandez | WR | 1982–1994 | 83 | BC |
43. | Bill Baker | DE | 1968–1978 | 174 | Saskatchewan, BC |
44. | Dan Bass | LB | 1980–1991 | 197 | Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton |
45. | Terry Vaughn | SB | 1995–2006 | 203 | Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Hamilton |
46. | Joe Krol | QB | 1945–1955 | 92 | Toronto |
47. | Tom Clements | QB | 1975–1987 | 182 | Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Winnipeg |
48. | Rollie Miles | RB, LB, DB, KR, P | 1951–1961 | 122 | Edmonton |
49. | Bill Frank | OL | 1962–1976 | 184 | BC, Toronto, Winnipeg |
50. | Darren Flutie | WR | 1991–2002 | 193 | BC, Edmonton, Hamilton |
The Honour Roll
The remaining players were named to an honour roll.
Notes
- First year played in CFL to last year played in CFL. Any intervening years in which a player did not play in the CFL are not listed.
- Number of CFL games played
- Incomplete information
- As of the end of the 2006 CFL season
References
- "TSN Top 50 CFL players". TSN.ca. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-05-03. Retrieved 2007-06-22.