Ed Gainey (Canadian football) facts for kids
Gainey with the Edmonton Elks in 2023
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| Born: | June 6, 1990 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Career information | |
| CFL status | American |
| Position(s) | DB |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 193 lb (88 kg) |
| College | Appalachian State |
| High school | Mount Tabor (NC) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2012–2014 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2014–2015 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2016–2021 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2022–2023 | Edmonton Elks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 2017, 2018 |
| CFL West All-Star | 2017, 2018 |
| Career stats | |
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Edward Eugene Gainey, born on June 6, 1990, is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive back in Canadian football. He has played for several teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL), including the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Edmonton Elks.
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Growing Up and High School Football
Ed Gainey grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played high school football at Mount Tabor High School. He was a very talented player, chosen as an 'all-region' player twice. He also took part in the Shrine Bowl, a special game for top high school players.
In his junior year, Ed was amazing at catching the ball from the other team. He led the entire state with 13 interceptions. During his senior year, he intercepted six passes and caused three fumbles. He was also the second-best tackler on his team. His team, the Spartans, even made it to the state championship game!
College Football Career
After high school, Ed Gainey played college football for the Appalachian State Mountaineers. He played there from 2008 to 2011.
During his time in college, he made 168 tackles. He also had five interceptions and broke up 59 passes. Breaking up a pass means he stopped the other team from catching the ball. Because of his great play, he was named to the Second Team All-Southern Conference in both 2009 and 2010.
Professional Football Journey
Ed Gainey has had an exciting career playing professional football in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Montreal Alouettes
Ed Gainey started his CFL journey with the Montreal Alouettes. He signed with them on May 3, 2012. His first CFL game was on July 6, 2012, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In January 2014, he signed a new three-year contract with the Alouettes. However, he was released by the team on June 21, 2014.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Not long after leaving Montreal, Ed Gainey joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He signed with them on July 16, 2014. He played for the Tiger-Cats for a couple of seasons.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
On February 10, 2016, Ed Gainey signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This is where he really shined!
- Record-Breaking Game: On August 13, 2017, Ed had an incredible game against the BC Lions. He made four interceptions in that single game! This was a huge achievement. He was the first CFL player since 1986 to do this.
- All-Star Seasons: He finished the 2017 season with 10 interceptions. Because of his amazing performance, he was named both a CFL West All-Star and a CFL All-Star. In 2018, even though fewer quarterbacks threw the ball his way, he still got 3 interceptions. He also got his first career sack, which is when you tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He was named to his second CFL All-Star team that year.
- Career High Tackles: In 2019, Ed made a career-high 56 tackles. He also added two more interceptions to his record. He signed a one-year contract extension with the Roughriders on January 25, 2021.
Edmonton Elks
Ed Gainey joined the Edmonton Elks on February 8, 2022. In his first season with the Elks in 2022, he made a big impact. He had 47 tackles, one interception, and caused two fumbles in 18 games.
On January 19, 2023, Ed and the Elks agreed to a new one-year contract. Unfortunately, on June 19, 2023, he had a shoulder injury. This meant he was placed on the injured list for six games. On January 23, 2024, Ed Gainey was released by the Elks.
