Don Wilson (gridiron football) facts for kids
Wilson in 2023
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| Date of birth: | July 28, 1961 |
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| Place of birth: | Washington, D.C. |
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Career information
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| CFL status: | Import |
| Position(s): | DB/PR |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| College: | North Carolina State |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| CFL All-Star: | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 |
| CFL East All-Star: | 1990, 1991 |
| CFL West All-Star: | 1989, 1993 |
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Career stats
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| Games played | 197 |
| Def Tackles | 667 |
| Interceptions | 61 |
| Int Ret Yards | 1,046 |
| Touchdowns | 8 |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
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Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 2021
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Donald Allen Wilson (born July 28, 1961) is a former professional gridiron football player from the United States. He was known for playing as a defensive back and a punt returner. A defensive back helps stop the other team from scoring. A punt returner catches punts and tries to run the ball back for yardage.
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Who is Don Wilson?
Don Wilson played college football at North Carolina State University. After college, he joined the National Football League (NFL) with the Buffalo Bills. He played for the Bills from 1984 to 1985.
Dominating the CFL: A Long Career
After his time in the NFL, Don Wilson moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL). He had a very successful career there, playing for twelve years. He played for three different teams in the CFL:
- Edmonton Eskimos (1987–1989, 1993–1994, 1998)
- Toronto Argonauts (1990–1992, 1995–1996)
- BC Lions (1997)
He played a total of 197 games in his career. He made 667 defensive tackles and had 61 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an opposing player. He also scored 8 touchdowns.
Grey Cup Wins
Don Wilson was part of four teams that won the Grey Cup. The Grey Cup is the championship trophy of the CFL, similar to the Super Bowl in the NFL.
- 1987 with the Edmonton Eskimos
- 1991 with the Toronto Argonauts
- 1993 with the Edmonton Eskimos
- 1996 with the Toronto Argonauts
All-Star Recognition
Don Wilson was recognized as one of the best players in the CFL many times. He was named a CFL All-Star four times:
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1993
He was also named an East Division All-Star in 1990 and 1991. He was a West Division All-Star in 1989 and 1993.
Hall of Fame Honor
In 2007, Don Wilson was named to the Toronto Argonauts' all-time team. This means he was considered one of the best players ever for that team.
In 2021, Don Wilson was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. This is a huge honor that recognizes his amazing career and contributions to Canadian football.
