Chuck Ealey facts for kids
| Born: | January 6, 1950 Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S. |
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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 | |
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Charles Ealey (born January 6, 1950) is a famous American former football player. He played as a quarterback for teams like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Toronto Argonauts. These teams are part of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Chuck Ealey made history in 1972. He became the first Black quarterback to win the Grey Cup, which is the CFL's championship. He led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to victory that year. Before playing professionally, Ealey was a star in college football at the University of Toledo. He also played high school football at Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Ealey had an amazing record in high school, never losing a single game. He is one of only two college quarterbacks in the top division to finish their entire college career without a loss, playing at least 25 games. As a senior at Toledo, he was also chosen for several All-American teams.
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Early Life and College Football Career
Chuck Ealey played high school football from 1964 to 1967. He played for Notre Dame High School under coach Ed Miller. In 1967, his team won its first state championship in Ohio. Even with his perfect high school record, Ealey was not heavily recruited by many colleges.
He turned down an offer from Miami University because they wanted him to be a third-string quarterback. Instead, he accepted a scholarship from University of Toledo Head Coach Frank Lauterbur. Coach Lauterbur offered him a chance to be the starting quarterback.
Toledo Rockets Success
Ealey joined the Toledo Rockets and led them to an incredible 35 wins in a row. This winning streak happened over three years, from 1969 to 1971. One of his biggest achievements with Toledo was helping them win the 1970 Tangerine Bowl.
He led the Rockets to three straight finishes in the Top 20 national rankings. They also won three Tangerine Bowl games in a row during their undefeated seasons. Ealey was even named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in all three of those bowl games.
College Awards and Recognition
In 1971, during his final year at Toledo, Ealey received many honors. He was named First Team All-American by Football News. He was also Second Team All-American by United Press International and Third Team All-American by the Associated Press.
He finished eighth in the voting for the 1971 Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the most outstanding player in college football. Ealey was chosen as a first-team all-conference player three times. He was also named Back of the Year three times in the Mid-American Conference. He led the conference in passing yards in both 1970 and 1971.
The University of Toledo has retired his jersey number, which is a very special honor. He was also one of the first members inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame in 1988. Because of his amazing college achievements, Chuck Ealey is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
In 1972, Chuck Ealey signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He didn't start as quarterback until the third game of his first season. After that, he led Hamilton to an 11–3 record and first place in their division.
Ealey won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award for being the best new player. He was also named to the CFL All-Star team. He helped his team win the 60th Grey Cup with a close 13–10 victory. In that game, he passed for 291 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 63 yards. He also won the Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award for his performance.
Later CFL Teams
Ealey was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the 1974 season. He played for them for about a year and a half, but he had some injuries during this time. In 1975, he was traded again, this time to the Toronto Argonauts. He played three seasons with the Argonauts.
His career ended in 1978 when he suffered a serious lung injury. In total, Chuck Ealey played seven seasons in the CFL. He passed for 13,326 yards and scored 82 touchdowns.
Life After Football
After his football career, Chuck Ealey became a regional director for Investors Group in Mississauga. He also appears on radio shows as an expert on investments and finance. He lives in Brampton with his wife. He has three children and seven grandchildren. His son, Damon, also played football for the University of Toledo in 1995.
Documentaries and Books
A documentary film about Chuck Ealey's life, called Undefeated: The Chuck Ealey Story, was shown in 2008. He is also featured in a book for young readers from 2008. The book is called Choice of Colours: The Pioneering African-American Quarterbacks Who Changed the Face of Football.
Chuck Ealey is also the subject of a 2012 documentary called "The Stone Thrower." This film was part of a series celebrating the 100th Grey Cup. Ealey's daughter, Jael Ealey Richardson, is a writer and broadcaster. She wrote a memoir about her father's life in 2012. She also wrote a children's book version in 2015, both titled The Stone Thrower.
