Canadian quarterbacks continue to push the barrier

It’s been the narrative my entire life. I’ve been blessed to hear stories about the great Russ Jackson, born and bred in the Steel City like myself, who was the last great Canadian quarterback to dominate headlines nationwide.

After an illustrious dual-athlete career at McMaster where he also played basketball, Jackson was selected in the first round by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1958, and from there he put together a Hall of Fame career that included three Grey Cups, three Most Outstanding Player Awards, four Most Outstanding Canadian Awards, and he won the Grey Cup MVP in his final game.

That’s a lot for any quarterback to live up to no matter what side of the border you were born on, but as the years go on, the legend of Russ Jackson continues to grow as we’ve watched a carousel of Canadian quarterbacks try their luck in the CFL – many left without an opportunity.