Bryan Crawford facts for kids
Crawford in 2023
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| Born: | February 18, 1982 Hamilton, Ontario |
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| Career information | |
| Status | retired |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | RB |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| University | Queen's |
| High school | Barton |
| CFL Draft | 2005 / Round: 5 / Pick: 44 |
| Drafted by | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2005–2011 | Toronto Argonauts |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Honors |
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| Career stats | |
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Bryan Crawford, born on February 18, 1982, is a Canadian sports leader and a former professional football player. He played his entire career, 112 games, as a running back for the Toronto Argonauts. On August 6, 2024, Crawford became the commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League, which is a big leadership role in junior hockey.
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Early Life and College Sports
Bryan Crawford grew up with a passion for sports. He is the son of Glenn and Elaine Crawford. His younger brother, Brad, also played football with him on the Argonauts. His sister, Lauren, played soccer for the University of Buffalo.
High School Achievements
Bryan went to Barton Secondary School. There, he was a star athlete. He was named the team's MVP. He also won the Athlete of the Year award. He was even named the game MVP of the Hamilton Steel City Bowl.
University Football and Track
After high school, Bryan played four seasons for the Golden Gaels football team at Queen's University. While playing football, he also studied political science. He was very successful in university sports.
- In 2001, he was named Queen's Rookie of the Year.
- In 2002, he became Queen's Special Teams Player of the Year.
- In 2004, he was the MVP at the CIS East West All-Star game.
Bryan also competed in track and field. He won two bronze medals in the 2004-05 OUA track championship.
Professional Football Career
Bryan Crawford's talent was noticed by professional teams. In 2005, he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds at the CFL Evaluation Camp. This is a test where players show their skills to teams.
Joining the Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts drafted him in the fifth round of the 2005 CFL Draft. He was the 44th player chosen overall. He made his first professional game appearance in week 11 of the 2005 CFL season. He played as a backup running back and a special teams player. Special teams are groups of players who play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals. He made important plays in weeks 14 and 16, earning him the ESQ player of the game award for week 14.
Career Highlights
In the 2007 CFL season, Bryan played in every game. He led the Argonauts with 27 special teams tackles. His teammates recognized his hard work. They named him a special teams co-captain. The Argonauts extended his contract until the 2010 CFL season.
On November 4, 2011, Bryan announced he was retiring from professional football. He finished his career as the Argonauts' all-time leader in special teams tackles with 137. He also had 26 carries for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 140 yards in 112 games.
Sports Executive Career
After his football career, Bryan Crawford moved into sports management. A sports executive helps run sports organizations.
Roles in Sports Management
- From November 2015 to July 2018, he was the Senior Director of Operations for Basketball Canada. This role involved managing how the national basketball programs worked.
- From July 2018 to June 2024, he was the Tournament Director of the RBC Canadian Open. This is a major golf tournament in Canada. He was in charge of organizing the event.
- In August 2024, Bryan Crawford became the Commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League. The commissioner is the top leader of the league. He replaced David Branch in this important role.
