Canadian Football Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum

The old venue for the Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007
Established	1972
Location	Tim Hortons Field 64 Melrose Avenue North, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Type	Canadian football museum

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a special place in Hamilton, Ontario. It celebrates the amazing achievements of people in Canadian football. The Canadian Football League (CFL) helps run it.

The Hall of Fame shows off the history of the CFL, plus Canadian university and junior football. It used to have a main building with displays and statues of famous members. There was even a fun game where you could try kicking a field goal!

Now, the Hall of Fame is changing. Instead of one main building, it has displays in different places. This means more people can see the history of Canadian football.

Every year during the CFL season, the Hall of Fame holds a special ceremony. This is when new players and builders are added to the Hall. This "Hall of Fame Weekend" often includes a regular season game, usually with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The new members give speeches and their special busts are shown for the first time.

To be considered for the Hall of Fame, a player must have stopped playing for at least three years. A group of sports writers, CFL leaders, and current Hall of Fame members vote on who gets in.

History of the Hall of Fame

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame first opened its doors on November 28, 1972. The building was designed by Munro Ploen & Associates. It was first located in downtown Hamilton.

In 2016, the Hall of Fame moved to Tim Hortons Field. This is the home stadium of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The idea for the Hall of Fame started in Hamilton back in 1963. Ivan Miller, a sports editor, became the first person in charge of the museum. In 2015, the CFL took over running the museum from the City of Hamilton.

Touchdown sculpture was located outside the Hall of Fame until 2018

The old Hall of Fame building was easy to spot because of a large metal statue called Touchdown. It showed a football player catching the ball and being tackled. This famous statue is now at Tim Hortons Field, near Gate 3.

Tim Hortons Field has three special areas for the Hall of Fame. There's a Grey Cup display at Gate 3. The Media Hall of Fame Wing is in the press box area. The main display area is on the premium level concourse. This main area has all 296 busts of the Hall of Fame members. It also has changing displays of different football items. You can visit these displays during Hamilton Tiger-Cats home games. The Hall of Fame also has displays that travel to different CFL stadiums and events, like the Grey Cup.

Famous Canadian Football Hall of Famers

This section lists some of the amazing players and builders who have been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. A "player" is someone who played the game. A "builder" is someone who helped grow the sport, like a coach, manager, or league official.

*denotes deceased

Players and Builders (A-Z)

• Jack Abendschan – player (K/OG), 2012. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Bob Ackles – builder, 2002. He was a general manager and president for the BC Lions.*
• Junior Ah You – player (DE), 1997. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Roger Aldag – player (C/OG), 2002. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Damon Allen – player (QB), 2012. He played for many teams, including the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.
• Kelvin Anderson – player (RB), 2017. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Ron Atchison – player (C/MG/DT), 1978. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Byron Bailey – player (FB/DB), 1975. He played for the BC Lions.*
• Bill Baker – player (DE), 1994. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions.
• John Barrow – player (OT/DT), 1976. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Danny Bass – player (LB), 2000. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos.
• Greg Battle – player (LB), 2007. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Al Benecick – player (OG/OT), 1996. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Paul Bennett – player (DB), 2002. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Leroy Blugh - player (DE), 2015.
• John Bonk – player (C), 2008. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Josh Bourke - player (OL), 2023.
• John Bowman - player (DE), 2023.
• Johnny Bright – player (RB), 1970. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Dieter Brock – player (QB), 1995. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Doug Brown – player (DT), 2016. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Less Browne – player (DB), 2002. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Wally Buono – builder, 2014. He was a head coach for the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions.
• Willie Burden – player (RB), 2001. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Henry Burris - player (QB), 2020. He played for many teams, including the Ottawa Redblacks.
• Ben Cahoon – player (WR), 2014. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Anthony Calvillo – player (QB), 2017. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Bob Cameron – player (P), 2010. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Hugh Campbell – builder, 2000. He was a player and coach for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Jerry Campbell – player (LB), 1996. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Freddie Childress – player, 2020.
• Frank Clair – builder, 1981. He was a head coach for the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Tom Clements – player (QB), 1994. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Mike "Pinball" Clemons – player (RB/KR), 2008. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.
• Tommy Joe Coffey – player (WR/K), 1977. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Rod Connop – player (OL), 2005. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Jon Cornish – player, 2019.
• Jim Corrigall – player (DE), 1990. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.

Grover Covington

• Grover Covington – player (DE), 2000. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Chip Cox – player (LB), 2022. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Larry Crawford - player (DE), 2023.
• Dave Cutler – player (K), 1998. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Peter Dalla Riva – player (TE), 1993. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Eddie Davis - player (DB), 2015.
• Dave Dickenson – player (QB), 2015.

Rocky DiPietro

• Rocky DiPietro – player (SB/WR), 1997. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• George Dixon – player (RB), 1974. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.*
• Jacques Dussault - builder, 2023.
• Matt Dunigan – player (QB), 2006. He played for many teams, including the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Ray Elgaard – player (SB), 2002. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Solomon Elimimian - player (LB), 2023.
• Eddie Emerson – player (C/FB/LB), 1963. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Ron Estay – player (DE), 2003. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Sam Etcheverry – player (QB), 1969. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.*
• Terry Evanshen – player (WR), 1984. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders.
• Lloyd Fairbanks - player (OL), 2023.
• Bernie Faloney – player (QB), 1974. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Dave Fennell – player (DT), 1990. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Mervyn Fernandez – player, 2019. He played for the BC Lions.
• Dan Ferrone – player (OG), 2013. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.
• Willie Fleming – player (RB), 1982. He played for the BC Lions.
• Scott Flory – player, 2018.
• Darren Flutie – player (WR), 2007. He played for the BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Doug Flutie – player (QB), 2008. He played for the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, and Toronto Argonauts.
• Brian Fryer – player (WR), 2013. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Tony Gabriel – player (TE), 1984. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Gene Gaines – player (HB), 1994. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Rough Riders.*

Hugh Gall

• Hugh Gall – player (HB/K), 1963. He played for the University of Toronto.*
• Jake Gaudaur – builder, 1984. He was a player and later the CFL commissioner.*
• Ed George – player (OL), 2005. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Tony Golab – player (RB/FW), 1964. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Miles Gorrell – player (OT), 2013. He played for many teams, including the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Bud Grant – builder, 1983. He was a player and head coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He is in both the Canadian and American Football Halls of Fame.*
• Tommy Grant – player (RB), 1995. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Herb Gray – player (DE/OG), 1983. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Terry Greer – player (WR), 2019. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.

Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey

• Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey – builder, 1963. He donated the famous Grey Cup trophy in 1909.*
• Tracy Ham – player (QB), 2010. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes.
• Fritz Hanson – player (RB), 1963. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Rodney Harding – player (DT), 2016. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.
• Dickie Harris – player (DB), 1998. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Wayne Harris – player (LB), 1976. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Herm Harrison – player (LB/TE), 1993. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Garney Henley – player (DB/WR), 1979. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Larry Highbaugh – player (DB), 2004. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Condredge Holloway – player (QB), 1998. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts.
• Jim Hopson – builder, 2019.
• Dick Huffman – player (OT/DT), 1987. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• John Hufnagel – builder, 2020.
• Hank Ilesic – player (P), 2018.
• Jake Ireland – builder, 2013. He was a football referee for many years.
• Russ Jackson – player (QB), 1973. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Jack Jacobs – player (QB), 1963. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Eddie James – player (FW), 1963. He played for the Regina Roughriders.*
• Gerry James – player (RB), 1981. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Alondra Johnson – player (LB), 2009. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Brent Johnson – player (DE), 2018. He played for the BC Lions.
• Will Johnson – player (DL), 2021. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Bobby Jurasin – player (DE), 2006. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Joe Kapp – player (QB), 1984. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions.*
• Jerry Keeling – player (DB/QB), 1989. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Brian Kelly – player (WR), 1991. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Ellison Kelly – player (G/T/DE/LB), 1992. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Danny Kepley – player (LB), 1996. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Eagle Keys – builder, 1990. He was a player and coach for many teams.*
• Tuffy Knight – builder, 2007. He was a coach for Wilfrid Laurier University.
• Joe Krol – player (RB/QB), 1963. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.*
• Norman Kwong – player (RB), 1969. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos.*

Ron Lancaster,
Canadian Football Hall of Fame

• Éric Lapointe – player (RB), 2012. He played for Mount Allison University.
• Ron Lancaster – player (QB), 1982. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and later coached.*
• Les Lear – player (OL/DL), 1974. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Ken Lehmann – player (LB), 2011. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Marv Levy - builder, 2021. He coached the Montreal Alouettes. He is also in the American Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• Leo Lewis – player (RB), 1973. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Nik Lewis – player (SB), 2021. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes.
• Don Loney – builder, 2013. He coached at St. Francis Xavier University.*
• Neil Lumsden – player (RB), 2014. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos.
• Earl Lunsford – player (FB), 1983. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Marv Luster – player (OE/DB), 1990. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts.*
• Don Luzzi – player (OT/DT), 1985. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Gene Makowsky – player (OT), 2015. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Don Matthews – builder, 2011. He was a head coach for many CFL teams.*
• Paul McCallum – player (K/P), 2022. He played for the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Chester McCance – player (K/E), 1976. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• George McGowan – player (WR), 2003. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Danny McManus – player (QB), 2011. He played for many teams, including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Ed McQuarters – player (DT), 1988. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Barron Miles – player, 2018.
• Rollie Miles – player (RB/DB/LB), 1980. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Jim Mills – player (OT), 2009. He played for the BC Lions.
• Derrell Mitchell – player (WR), 2016. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.
• Douglas Mitchell – builder, 2021. He was a CFL commissioner.
• Joe Montford – player (DE), 2011. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Warren Moon – player (QB), 2001. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos. He is the only player in both the Canadian and American Pro Football Halls of Fame.
• Frank Morris – player (OG/DT), 1983. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Angelo Mosca – player (DT/OT/MG), 1987. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Cal Murphy – builder, 2004. He was a coach and general manager for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• James Murphy – player (WR), 2000. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Don Narcisse – player (WR), 2010. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Roger Nelson – player (OT/DT/OG/OT), 1985. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Ray Nettles – player (LB), 2005. He played for the BC Lions.*
• Peter Neumann – player (DE), 1979. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Bob O'Billovich – builder, 2015.
• Mike O'Shea – player (LB), 2017. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.
• Uzooma Okeke – player (OT), 2014. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Tony Pajaczkowski – player (DE/G), 1988. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Jackie Parker – player (QB/HB/WR/K/P), 1971. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.*
• James Parker – player (LB/DE), 2001. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions.*
• Lui Passaglia – player (K/P), 2004. He played for the BC Lions.

Hal Patterson

• Hal Patterson – player (OE/DB), 1971. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Elfrid Payton – player (DE), 2010. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes.
• Norm Perry – player (RB), 1963. He played for the Sarnia Imperials.*
• Rudy Phillips – player (OG), 2009. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Allen Pitts – player (WR), 2006. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Ernie Pitts – player, 2019. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Willie Pless – player (LB), 2005. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos.
• Ken Ploen – player (QB/DB), 1975. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Joe Poplawski – player (SB), 1998. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Mike Pringle – player (RB), 2008. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.
• Moe Racine – player (OT/K), 2014. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Dave Raimey – player (RB/KR), 2000. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.
• Ricky Ray – player (QB), 2022. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.
• George Reed – player (RB), 1979. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Dave Ridgway – player (K), 2003. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Frank Rigney – player (OT), 1984. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Al Ritchie – builder, 1963. He was a manager and coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Dave Ritchie – builder, 2022. He was a coach for many CFL teams.*
• Charles Roberts – player (RB), 2014. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Larry Robinson – player (DB/K/R), 1998. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Rocco Romano – player (OG), 2007. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Paul Rowe – player (RB), 1964. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Martin Ruby – player (OT/DT), 1974. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Ralph Sazio – builder, 1988. He was a player, coach, and general manager for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Stan Schwartz – builder, 2017. He was an assistant coach and president for the Calgary Stampeders.
• Tom Scott – player (SB), 1998. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos.
• Vince Scott – player (DG), 1982. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Dick Shatto – player (FB/HB/SB/F), 1975. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.*
• Roy Shivers – builder, 2022. He was a personnel manager and general manager for many CFL teams.
• Geroy Simon – player (WR), 2017. He played for the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
• Bob Simpson – player (FW/RB/DB), 1976. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Jimmie Simpson – builder, 1985. He was a player and trainer for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.*
• Frank Smith – builder, 2019.
• Larry Smith - builder, 2023.
• Milt Stegall – player (SB), 2012. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Orlondo Steinauer – player (S), 2021. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts.
• Ron Stewart – player (RB), 1977. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Annis Stukus – builder, 1974. He was a player, coach, and general manager for many teams.*
• Don Sutherin – player (DB/K), 1992. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Bill Symons – player (HB), 1997. He played for the Toronto Argonauts.

Piffles Taylor

• Piffles Taylor – builder, 1963. He was a player and president for the Regina Roughriders.*
• Dave Thelen – player (RB), 1989. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.
• Dick Thornton – player (DB/KR), 2022. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts.*
• Brian Timmis – player (OT), 1963. He played for the Hamilton Tigers.*
• Tim Tindale – player (RB), 2022. He played for Western Mustangs football.
• Frank Tindall – builder, 1984. He was a player for the Toronto Argonauts and coach for Queen's University.*
• Buddy Tinsley – player (OT/DT), 1982. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Andy Tommy – player (FW/HB), 1989. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Brian Towriss – builder, 2017. He was a coach for the Saskatchewan Huskies.
• Herb Trawick – player (OT), 1975. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.*
• Joe Tubman – player (HB/K), 1968. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Whit Tucker – player (HB/F), 1993. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Ted Urness – player (G/T/C), 1989. He played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.*
• Larry Uteck – builder, 2020.*
• Kaye Vaughan – player (OG/OT/DT), 1978. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders.*
• Terry Vaughn – player (SB/WR), 2011. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos.
• Greg Vavra – player, 2020.
• Pierre Vercheval – player (OG), 2007. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Montreal Alouettes.
• Virgil Wagner – player (RB/HB), 1980. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.*
• Chris Walby – player (OT), 2003. He played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Mike Walker – player (DT), 2021. He played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
• Bert Warwick – builder, 1964. He was a coach and executive for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.*
• Glen Weir – player (DT), 2009. He played for the Montreal Alouettes.*
• Bob Wetenhall – builder, 2015.*
• Huck Welch – player (RB/K), 1964. He played for the Hamilton Tigers.*
• James West – player (LB), 2016. He played for the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• Tom Wilkinson – player (QB), 1987. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• David Williams – player (WR), 2019. He played for many teams, including the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts.*
• Gizmo Williams – player (KR/WR), 2006. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos.
• Al Wilson – player (OL), 1997. He played for the BC Lions.
• Don Wilson – player (DB), 2021. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.
• Earl Winfield – player (WR/KR), 2013. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Harvey Wylie – player (DB/KR), 1980. He played for the Calgary Stampeders.*
• Dan Yochum – player (OT), 2004. He played for the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos.*
• Jim Young – player (WR), 1991. He played for the BC Lions.
• Ben Zambiasi – player (LB), 2004. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Bill Zock – player (G/T), 1984. He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Eskimos.*

Hall of Fame Game

The Hall of Fame Weekend often includes a special CFL game. Here are some of the past Hall of Fame Games:

See also

• TSN Top 50 CFL Players
• List of attractions in Hamilton, Ontario
• List of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees