Last week, I mused about Super Bowl XLIII (even though I was under severe duress and denial after the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t book a flight to Tampa Bay) and will continue to do so here - albeit with a continued Canadian angle. Indeed, with millions of Canadians (including myself) planning to watch it, it might be a good idea to write about it.
There’s always a Canadian connection to the NFL and/or the Super Bowl. For example, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s biological father Ed played fullback for one season for the Montreal Alouettes.
Currently, Pittsburgh Punter Mitch Berger hails from British Columbia.
Once rival leagues (well, the CFL was more of a curiosity for Americans), the NFL and the CFL have partnered in various programs to promote the game in recent years. Coupled with the revival of the Montreal Alouettes, this has led to a strong development and organized football system in Canada. Quebec in particular has taken to the game as the success Laval Rouge et Or shows. Three Quebecers currently play in the NFL along with three compatriots from Alberta. In total, there are 14 Canadians playing in the NFL. Canadian University football now has over 1000 Canadians participating while roughly 150 Canadians play in the CFL.
In addition, over 100 Canadians are competing in the NCAA on football scholarships.
If this keeps up, we may one day see a Canadian coach, or even a Quarterback (oops, been done. Mark Rypien led the Washington Redskins to Super Bowl glory in 1991.)
Let’s wait for an electrifying running back.
With all games played in Canada, between 1950 and 1961 the NFL and CFL competed in a one-off with the following results:
Aug. 12,1950 N.Y. Giants 20, Ottawa Rough Riders 6
Aug. 11,1951 N.Y. Giants 38, Ottawa Rough Riders 6
Aug. 5, 1959 Chicago Cardinals 55, Toronto Argonauts 26
Aug. 6, 1960 Pittsburgh Steelers 43, Toronto Argonauts 16
Aug. 2, 1961 St. Louis Cardinals 36, Toronto Argonauts 7
Aug. 5, 1961 Chicago Bears 34, Montreal Alouettes16
Aug. 8, 1961 Hamilton Tiger-Cats 38, Buffalo Bills 21
Stats and figures from nflcanada.com.
