CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon Statement on the Passing of Sam Etcheverry

All of us in the Canadian Football League feel a pang of sorrow, and a debt of gratitude, upon hearing of the passing of one of our legends, Sam Etcheverry. It is sometimes said of us fortunate enough to follow great men and women that we stand on the shoulders of giants. In the CFL, it is equally true that we have traveled far on the strong arms of great quarterbacks, and no one was better than Sam "The Rifle".

He not only led his team on the field and later from the sideline; he was one of the superstars who helped lead our league into a modern, new age.

Sam Etcheverry will be sorely missed, fondly remembered, and forever listed among the greats who carried our league forward, with each and every pass.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Bio:

An Alouette player from 1952 to 1960, he led Montreal to three Grey Cup appearances. Today, a half century after his playing days in our league ended, he still holds the record for the most passing yards in a Grey Cup game (508 in 1955), and the record for the most consecutive games with a passing touchdown (34 games,  from 1954 to 1956).

He is tied for the record for the longest pass completion (109 yards in 1956.)  He threw for 586 yards in a game in 1954, setting a single-game record that stood for 39 years, a feat which still stands third on the all-time list.

Etcheverry returned to the Als in 1970 to coach the team, leading them to a Grey Cup title in his first season.