George Reed (Canadian football) facts for kids
Reed as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
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| Date of birth: | October 2, 1939 |
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| Place of birth: | Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Date of death: | October 1, 2023 (aged 83) |
| Place of death: | Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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Career information
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| CFL status: | Import |
| Position(s): | RB |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| College: | Washington State |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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| CFL All-Star: | 1965–1969, 1971–1974 |
| CFL West All-Star: | 1965–1969, 1971–1975 |
| Awards: | 1965 - CFL MOP 1976 - Tom Pate Memorial Award.- 54th Grey Cup - Grey Cup Most Valuable Player |
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Career stats
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Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1979
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George Robert Reed (born October 2, 1939 – died October 1, 2023) was an amazing American football player. He became a legend in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Many people say he was one of the greatest running backs in CFL history. A running back is a player who carries the ball and tries to run past defenders to score. In 2006, he was even voted the second-best player in the CFL's modern history!
Reed played his entire 13-year professional football career for the Saskatchewan Roughriders team in the CFL. His jersey number, 34, is one of only eight numbers that the club has officially retired. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again.
His daughter, Georgette Reed, also became a famous athlete. She represented Canada in the 1992 Summer Olympics in the shot put competition.
College Football Years
George Reed played college football for the Washington State University Cougars. He played there from 1959 to 1962. During his time at college, he played alongside another future Canadian Football Hall of Famer, Hugh Campbell.
Becoming a CFL Star
After college, George Reed joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders team. He played for them for 13 years, from 1963 until 1975. He played in 203 games during his career!
When he retired, George Reed held many impressive CFL records. He had the most rushing yards (16,116 yards). Rushing yards are the total distance a player gains by running with the ball. He also held the record for the most rushing touchdowns (134). A touchdown is when a player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone, scoring points for their team.
While some of his records have since been broken by other great players like Mike Pringle, George Reed still holds the CFL record for the most rushing touchdowns.
George Reed was recognized for his amazing skills. He was voted the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 1965. In 1976, he was the very first winner of the Tom Pate Memorial Trophy. This award is given to a player for their great playing ability and their community service. He was also the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 54th Grey Cup in 1966. In that game, his team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, won the Grey Cup, which is the CFL championship! This was his only Grey Cup win.
On October 9, 1973, the city of Regina, Saskatchewan honored him in a special way. They officially declared October 9 as "George Reed Day."
George Reed also played an important role off the field. In 1972, while he was still playing, he became the president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA). This organization helps protect the rights of CFL players. He stayed president until 1981, even after he retired from playing. He later returned to be president again from 1986 to 1993.
Life After Football
After his football career, George Reed became a Canadian citizen. He worked as the Director of Guest and Community Relations at SaskGaming.
His contributions to Canada were recognized in a big way. In 1978, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. This is the highest honor a civilian can receive in Canada. In 1979, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, which is a special place for the greatest players in Canadian football history.
In 2012, to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post featured his image on special postage stamps. These stamps were used to promote the Grey Cup game and other celebrations.
In November 2019, a street near the Roughriders' stadium in Regina was renamed "George Reed Way" in his honor. A statue of George Reed, which was put up in 2017, stands outside the stadium.
On November 9, 2022, a theater in Regina called Globe Theatre created a live play about George Reed's life in the CFL. The play covered his time playing football from 1963 to 1975.
George Reed passed away on October 1, 2023, at the age of 83.
