Chuck Ealey
Born: | Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S. | January 6, 1950
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Career information | |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | QB |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
College | Toledo |
High school | Notre Dame |
Career history | |
As player | |
1972–1974 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
1974–1975 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
1975–1978 | Toronto Argonauts |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Charles Ealey (born January 6, 1950) is a former American Canadian football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He became the first black quarterback to win the Grey Cup when he led Hamilton to the title in 1972.[1] Ealey played college football at the University of Toledo and high school football for Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, Ohio. He finished his high school career without a single loss and is one of only two FBS quarterbacks to finish their collegiate careers undefeated with at least 25 games played (the other being Jimmy Harris of Oklahoma).[2] Ealey was also named to several All-American teams as a senior at Toledo.
High school and college years
From 1964 to 1967, Ealey played for
In 1971, Ealey's senior season, he was named First Team All-American by
Canadian football career
In 1972, Ealey signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He did not start as quarterback until the third game of his rookie season, but then proceeded to lead Hamilton to an 11–3 record and first place in the East Division. Ealey won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award and was named to the CFL All-Star team. He helped secure a 13–10 last minute victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 60th Grey Cup, when he also won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award after passing for 291 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 63 yards.
Ealey was traded to the
Personal life
Ealey is now a regional director for
A documentary film on his life, Undefeated: The Chuck Ealey Story was aired on November 27, 2008.[12]
Chuck Ealey is one of a number of black athletes featured in Choice of Colours: The Pioneering African-American Quarterbacks Who Changed the Face of Football, a book for young readers released in 2008. Chuck is also the subject of the 2012 documentary "The Stone Thrower." It is part of Engraved on a Nation, a series of eight documentaries celebrating the 100th Grey Cup that aired on TSN in October 2012.
Ealey's daughter, writer and broadcaster Jael Ealey Richardson, has also written about Ealey's life in a memoir published in 2012 and a children's book adaptation published in 2015, both under the title The Stone Thrower.[13]
References
- The Undefeated, September 20, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- ^ "Oklahoma football flashback: Jimmy Harris was the OU QB who never lost". September 6, 2018.
- ^ "Ohio state high school football champions." www.ohsaa.org. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
- ^ Jares, Joe. "Holy Toledo! Chuck Ealey Nearly Lost One". CNN. October 11, 1971. Sports Illustrated, October 1, 1971. SI Vault. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ Internet Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "Capital One Bowl: All Time Game Results." Archived July 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine www.capitalonebowl.floridacitrussports.com. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ^ "1971 Heisman Trophy Voting". www.sports-reference.com. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ a b "Mid-America Conference Hall of Fame: Chuck Ealey, Toledo (Football)." www.mac-sports.com. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "A Championship Legacy." Toledo Football, 2007. 122-150. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ "Luck, Salaam, Pinkel to College Football HOF". www.espn.com. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ "Chuck's Story." www.inductchuck.com. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ^ Chin, Joe (November 26, 2008). "Football legend featured in documentary". The Mississauga News. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
- TVOntario, July 6, 2016.
External links
- Chuck Ealey's Bio
- Official website
- InductChuck.com Campaign to enshrine Chuck Ealey into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame.