Canadian Football Hall of Fame

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates achievements in Canadian football. It is maintained by the Canadian Football League (CFL). It includes displays about the CFL, Canadian university football and Canadian junior football history."Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum" . The Canadian Encyclopedia

The Hall previously had a main feature in the central portion of the museum where the metal busts of inducted members were displayed prior to the physical building being closed. There were also featured displays that highlight each CFL team's history, and an interactive field goal kicking exhibit. The CFHOF is currently changing to a de-centralized model, which does not include a main museum building.

Once during every CFL season, the Hall sponsors the induction ceremony of former players. Included in the "Hall of Fame Weekend" is a regular season game, usually (but not always) affiliated with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Traditionally, the inducted players will come to the Hall and make an acceptance speech in front of the building where their newly sculpted bust is unveiled. A player must be retired from the game for at least three years before being eligible for consideration.Canadian Football Hall of Fame Nomination Form , April 12, 2010 A Hall of Fame voting committee is composed of sports writers, selected CFL executives and inducted members.Canadian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee , Accessed February 2011

History The Canadian Football Hall of Fame officially opened on November 28, 1972. The building was designed by Munro Ploen & Associates of Hamilton. Originally located in downtown Hamilton, it moved to Tim Hortons Field, home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, in 2016. The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was awarded to the City of Hamilton in June 1963 following the invitation of Mayor Lloyd Douglas Jackson. The Hamilton Parks Board offered a space near Civic Stadium. In 1963, Ivan Miller, former sports editor of The Hamilton Spectator, was named the first curator. Soon after, the Board of Education purchased the land and building. The Hall moved to its new location in 1972 and closed on September 19, 2015. In 2015, responsibility for the museum moved from the City of Hamilton to the CFL.

The old Canadian Football Hall of Fame building was easily identified by the slightly-larger-than-life metal sculpture Touchdown, featuring a successful receiver being tackled. The sculpture has since been moved to Tim Hortons Field Gate 3. Tim Hortons Field also has 3 display areas – the Grey Cup display at Gate 3, the Media Hall of Fame Wing in the press box area, and the main display area in the premium level concourse. The main display area will feature all 296 busts (as of March 2018) and rotating displays of various artifacts. The displays are accessible during Hamilton Tiger-Cats home games (club-level display open to all ticket holders 15 minutes after the end of the game). The CFHOF also has travelling displays for different CFL team home fields, the Grey Cup, and other events.

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

A Jack Abendschan – player (K/OG), 2012 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1965–75). Bob Ackles – builder, 2002 (BC Lions as general manager 1975–86, president 2002–2008, and other duties since 1954). Junior Ah You – player (DE), 1997 (Montreal Alouettes 1972–81). Roger Aldag – player (C/OG), 2002 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1976–91). Damon Allen – player (QB), 2012 (Edmonton Eskimos 1985–88, 1993–94; Ottawa Rough Riders 1989–91; Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1992; Memphis Mad Dogs 1995; BC Lions 1996–2002; Toronto Argonauts 2003–2007). Kelvin Anderson – player (RB), 2017 (Calgary Stampeders 1996–2002). Tony Anselmo – builder, 2009 (Calgary Stampeders as manager and other tasks 1973-2009). Ron Atchison – player (C/MG/DT), 1978 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1952–68).

B Len Back – builder, 1971 (Hamilton Tigers as manager 1928–40, 1945–49; Hamilton Flying Wildcats as manager 1941–43; Hamilton Tiger-Cats as manager 1950–80). Byron Bailey – player (FB/DB), 1975 (BC Lions 1954–64). R. Harold Bailey – builder, 1965 (ORFU president 1941; CRU president 1942–45). Bill Baker – player (DE), 1994 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1968–73, 1977–78; BC Lions 1974–76). Harold Ballard – builder, 1987 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats as owner and president 1978–89). Donald Barker – builder, 1999 (for his role in developing league officiating since the 1960s). John Barrow – player (OT/DT), 1976 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1957–70; Toronto Argonauts as General Manager 1971–75). Danny Bass – player (LB), 2000 (Toronto Argonauts 1980; Calgary Stampeders 1981–83; Edmonton Eskimos 1984–91). Harry Batstone – player (HB), 1963 (Toronto Argonauts 1919–21; Queen's University 1922–28, later as coach 1929–31). Greg Battle – player (LB), 2007 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1987–93, 1997–98; Las Vegas Posse/Ottawa Rough Riders 1994; Memphis Mad Dogs 1995; Saskatchewan Roughriders 1996). Ormond Beach – player (LB), 1963 (Sarnia Imperials 1934–37). Al Benecick – player (OG/OT), 1996 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1959–68; Edmonton Eskimos 1969). Paul Bennett – player (DB), 2002 (Toronto Argonauts 1977–80, 1984; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1980–83; Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1984–87). Sam Berger – builder, 1993 (Ottawa Rough Riders as director, president, a part owner 1930s–1969; Montreal Alouettes as owner and president 1969–81; Canadian Football League president 1964, 1971). Leroy Blugh - player (DE), 2015 (Edmonton Eskimos 1989-2000; Toronto Argonauts 2001-2003). John Bonk – player (C), 2008 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1972–73; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1973–1985). Josh Bourke - player (OL), 2023 (Montreal Alouettes 2007-2015; Toronto Argonauts 2016). John Bowman - player (DE), 2023 (Montreal Alouettes 2006-2020). Ab Box – player (HB/P), 1965 (Toronto Balmy Beach Beachers 1930–31, 1935–38; Toronto Argonauts 1932–34). David Braley – builder, 2012 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats as owner 1987–90; BC Lions as owner 1997–2020; Interim CFL commissioner 2002; Toronto Argonauts as owner 2010–2015). Joe Breen – player (RB), 1963 (University of Toronto 1914–15, 1919–20; Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 1921–23; Toronto Argonauts 1924–25); University of Western Ontario 1929–34 as coach. Johnny Bright – player (RB), 1970 (Calgary Stampeders 1952–54; Edmonton Eskimos 1954–64). Clyde Brock – player (OT), 2020 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1965-1975). Dieter Brock – player (QB), 1995 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1974–83; Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1983–84). Tom Brook – builder, 1975 (Calgary Stampeders as club organizer and president 1948–51, director 1956–58). Doug Brown – player (DT), 2016 (Calgary Stampeders 1997; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2001–11). D. Wes Brown – builder, 1963 (Ottawa Rough Riders 40-year executive beginning in 1936, holding the roles of director, treasurer, secretary, and other duties). Tom Brown – player (LB/MG), 1984 (BC Lions 1961–67). Less Browne – player (DB), 2002 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1984–88;Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1989–91; Ottawa Rough Riders 1992; BC Lions 1993–94). Paul Brule – player (RB/DB), 2018 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1968-1971; Montreal Alouettes 1972) Wally Buono – builder, 2014 (Calgary Stampeders as head coach 1990–2002; BC Lions as head coach 2003–11 and 2016–2018). Willie Burden – player (RB), 2001 (Calgary Stampeders 1974–81). Henry Burris - player (QB), 2020 (Ottawa Redblacks, Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1997-2017))

C Ben Cahoon – player (WR), 2014 (Montreal Alouettes 1998–2010). Anthony Calvillo – player (QB), 2017 (Las Vegas Posse 1994, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1995–1997, Montreal Alouettes 1998–2013). Bob Cameron – player (P), 2010 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1980–2002). Hugh Campbell – builder, 2000 (Saskatchewan Roughriders as player 1963–68, 1969; Edmonton Eskimos as head coach 1977–82, General manager 1986–97, president and CEO 1998–2006). Jerry Campbell – player (LB), 1996 (Calgary Stampeders 1966–68, 1976; Ottawa Rough Riders 1968–75). Tom Casey – player (RB), 1964 (Hamilton Wildcats 1949; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1950–54, 1956). Ken Charlton – player (RB/FW), 1992 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1941, 1948–54; Winnipeg RCAF Bombers 1942; Regina All-Services Roughriders 1943; Ottawa Rough Riders 1945–47). Freddie Childress – player (OT), 2020 (Shreveport Pirates 1994; Birmingham Barracudas 1995; Calgary Stampeders 1996-2003; Saskatchewan Roughriders 2004-2006). Arthur Chipman – builder, 1969 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers as president 1944–48; WIFU president 1949 and CRU president 1952). Bryan Chiu – player (C), 2025 (Montreal Alouettes 1997-2009). Frank Clair – builder, 1981 (Toronto Argonauts as head coach 1950–54; Ottawa Rough Riders as head coach 1956–69, general manager 1970–78). Bill Clarke – player (OT/DT), 1996 (Saskatchewan Roughriders 1951–64). Tom Clements – player (QB), 1994 (Ottawa Rough Riders 1975–78; Saskatchewan Roughriders 1979; Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1979, 1981–83; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1983–87). Mike "Pinball" Clemons – player (RB/KR), 2008 (Toronto Argonauts 1989–2000). Tommy Joe Coffey – player (WR/K), 1977 (Edmonton Eskimos 1959–60, 1962–66; Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1967–72; Toronto Argonauts 1973). Marvin Coleman – player (CB/KR), 2024 (Calgary Stampeders 1994-2000; Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2001-2003). Lionel Conacher – player (K/R), 1963 (Toronto Torontos (ORFU) 1920; Toronto Argonauts 1921–22; Toronto Crosse & Blackwell Chefs 1934). Peter Connellan – builder, 2012 (Calgary Dinos as head coach 1977–95). Rod Connop – player (OL), 2005 (Edmonton Eskimos 1982–97). Ralph W. Cooper – builder, 1992 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats organized the Hamilton merger in 1950, and as president 1950–52; various other roles within the league until the 1970s). Jeremaine Copeland – player (WR), 2025 (Montreal Alouettes 2001-2004; Calgary Stampeders 2005-2009; Toronto Argonauts 2010-2011). Royal Copeland – player (HB/DB), 1988 ( Navy 1944; Toronto Argonauts 1945–49, 1952–56; Calgary Stampeders 1950–51). Jon Cornish – player (RB), 2019 (Calgary Stampeders 2007-2015). Jim Corrigall – player (DE), 1990 (Toronto Argonauts 1970–81). Frank Cosentino – builder, 2018. Bruce Coulter – builder, 1997 (McGill University as head coach 1958–61; various directorships and presidencies with Canadian university sports).

Grover Covington – player (DE), 2000 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1981–91). Chip Cox – player (LB), 2022 (Montreal Alouettes 2006–18). Ernie Cox – player (C), 1963 (Hamilton Tigers 1921–31). Larry Crawford - player (DE), 2023 (BC Lions 1981-1989; Toronto Argonauts 1989). Ross Craig – player (RB), 1964 (Hamilton Alerts 1911–12; Hamilton Tigers 1913–15, 1919–20). Hec Crighton – builder, 1985 (served on CRU rules committee in 1947; instrumental in creation of university championship game). Carl Cronin – player (QB/LB/K), 1967 (Winnipeg 'Pegs 1932–33; Calgary Bronks 1935–39 as coach). Andrew Currie – builder, 1974 (officiating and rules committee 1935–70). Gord Currie – builder, 2005 (amateur football coach, notably with the Regina Rams 1965–76). Bernie Custis – builder, 1998 (amateur and college football coach 1958–88, notably with McMaster in the 1980s). Dave Cutler – player (K), 1998 (Edmonton Eskimos 1969–84). Wes Cutler – player (T/E/R), 1968 (University of Toronto 1931–32; Toronto Argonauts 1933–38).

D Peter Dalla Riva – player (TE), 1993 (Montreal Alouettes 1968–81). Andrew P. Davies – builder, 1969 (Ottawa Rough Riders as player/coach 1920s, executive officer, and team physician until 1948). Eddie Davis - player (DB), 2015 (Birmingham Barracudas 1995; Calgary Stampeders 1996-2000; Saskatchewan Roughriders 2001-2009). John DeGruchy – builder, 1963 (president of the CRU 1925, 1930, 1935; president of the ORFU for 25 years). Dave Dickenson – player (QB), 2015 (Calgary Stampeders 1996-2000, 2008; BC Lions 2003-2007).

Rocky DiPietro – player (SB/WR), 1997 (Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1978–91). George Dixon – player (RB), 1974 (Montreal Alouettes 1959–65).