Russ Jackson
Russell Stanley Jackson (born July 28, 1936, in Hamilton, Ontario) is a retired Canadian professional football player best known as a quarterback for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[1] He played his entire 12-season career from 1958 to 1969 without missing a game due to injury, amassing 24,593 passing yards on 1,356 completions out of 2,530 attempts (53.6% completion rate) with 185 touchdowns, while also rushing for 5,045 yards and 54 touchdowns on 738 carries.[1] Jackson led the Rough Riders to three Grey Cup victories (1960, 1968, and 1969) and was a dominant force as the Eastern Conference passing leader from 1963 to 1969.[2] A standout from his youth in Hamilton, where he excelled in multiple sports at Westdale Secondary School, Jackson earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from McMaster University in 1958 before entering professional football.[3] His accolades include three Schenley Awards as the CFL's Most Outstanding Player (1963, 1966, 1969), four as the Most Outstanding Canadian (1959, 1963, 1966, 1969), six Eastern All-Star selections (1962–1963, 1966–1969), and three CFL All-Star nods (1966, 1968, 1969).[1] He was twice named Canada's top male athlete and won the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy twice for sportsmanship and team play.[4] Jackson's legacy is cemented by his 1973 induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1982 entry into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, and enshrinement in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975; he was also appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and ranked eighth on TSN's list of the CFL's top 50 players in 2006. Many of his records stood for decades, including the single-season passing yards for a Canadian quarterback (3,641 yards in 1969) until it was broken in 2025.[1][4][5] Following his retirement, Jackson returned to education, working as a mathematics teacher from 1959 to 1966 while playing and later serving as a vice-principal and principal at high schools including Brampton Centennial, T.L. Kennedy, and John Fraser in Ontario.[6] He transitioned into broadcasting as a colour commentator for Hamilton Tiger-Cats games, contributing to his enduring influence in Canadian sports.[3] The Russ Jackson Award, presented annually since 1986 by U Sports, honors university football players for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service, reflecting his multifaceted impact.[7]Early years
Early life
Russell Stanley Jackson was born on July 28, 1936, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[8] He spent his formative years in Hamilton, a steelworking city with strong blue-collar roots that shaped its community-oriented environment.[9] The city's longstanding sports culture, particularly its football heritage tracing back to the founding of the Hamilton Football Club in 1869, provided young residents like Jackson with ample opportunities for physical activity and local engagement.[9] During the 1940s, amid the post-war resurgence of teams such as the Hamilton Flying Wildcats—who won the Grey Cup in 1943—football games at venues like the HAAA Grounds became central community events, exposing children to the sport's intensity and popularity.[9] From an early age, Jackson displayed interest in a variety of sports. He was prominent in baseball, hockey, basketball, and football at Westdale Secondary School.[8] This exposure in Hamilton's athletic scene helped cultivate his foundational skills and passion for competition, setting the stage for his organized pursuits in secondary school.[8]Secondary school and early athletics
Russ Jackson attended Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, where he emerged as a multi-sport athlete during the early 1950s.[3] He participated in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey, demonstrating versatility and athletic prowess across these disciplines.[8] In football, Jackson initially aspired to play as an offensive end but was persuaded by his junior team coach to take up the quarterback position, a decision that marked the beginning of his development as a poised passer and strong runner.[10] He excelled as the team's quarterback, earning recognition as a standout player and laying the foundation for his future success in the sport.[3] Jackson also shone in basketball as a star athlete, contributing significantly to his school's teams.[3] His involvement in baseball and hockey further highlighted his all-around abilities.[8] These high school experiences honed his quarterback skills, including leadership on the field and quick decision-making, while fostering the competitive drive that defined his later career.[8]University career
Academic pursuits
Russell Jackson enrolled at McMaster University in 1954 as an undergraduate student in mathematics.[11] He balanced his rigorous coursework in the subject with commitments to varsity football and basketball, emerging as a standout scholar-athlete despite the demands of intercollegiate competition.[12] Jackson's academic excellence was recognized through his nomination as McMaster's candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship, an honor reflecting his strong performance in mathematics studies.[13] Although he did not pursue the interview process for the scholarship, this distinction underscored his intellectual capabilities alongside his athletic prowess.[1] Upon graduating in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, Jackson initially leaned toward a career in education rather than committing fully to professional sports.[14] He enrolled in teachers' college in Toronto shortly after, allowing him to begin part-time teaching mathematics while launching his professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders.[15] This approach enabled him to maintain his academic interests, as he taught high school math from 1959 to 1961 even as he established himself in the Canadian Football League.[16]Collegiate athletics
At McMaster University, Russ Jackson primarily competed as the starting quarterback for the Marauders football team from 1954 to 1957, where he demonstrated exceptional passing accuracy, mobility, and leadership that marked his development into a premier Canadian signal-caller.[17] He also showcased his multi-sport versatility by participating in basketball, baseball, and hockey, earning recognition as a standout athlete across disciplines during his undergraduate tenure.[3][10] Jackson's football prowess was particularly evident in his final season of 1957, when the Marauders achieved a perfect 7–0 record and clinched the inaugural Ontario Intercollegiate Football Conference (OIFC) championship.[11] Under his guidance, the team achieved four shutouts, including decisive victories that highlighted his ability to orchestrate balanced offenses blending precise aerial attacks with effective ground plays.[11] In basketball, Jackson contributed as a key guard for the Marauders, leveraging his athleticism to help the team in competitive intercollegiate matchups, though specific scoring records from his era remain less documented.[10] Regarded as one of Canada's top university quarterbacks for his poise under pressure and dual-threat capabilities, Jackson's collegiate performances drew significant attention from professional scouts.[17] This acclaim culminated in his selection as the sixth overall pick in the 1958 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Rough Riders, initially eyed for his versatility at halfback but quickly transitioned to quarterback in the pros.[2][18]Professional football career
Ottawa Rough Riders tenure
Russ Jackson was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1958 CFL Draft and signed with the team shortly thereafter, beginning his professional career initially as a defensive back and halfback.[18] He transitioned to quarterback by 1963, solidifying his role under head coach Frank Clair, who built a competitive roster around homegrown talent and strategic acquisitions to challenge Eastern Conference opponents.[19] Jackson's tenure with the Rough Riders lasted from 1958 to 1969, encompassing 12 seasons and 166 regular-season games as the starting quarterback, during which he never missed a contest due to injury.[2] The team, under his leadership, qualified for the playoffs in every one of those years, capturing multiple Eastern Conference regular-season titles amid fierce rivalries with teams like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, which defined the intensity of Eastern Division play.[2] Throughout his career, Jackson exemplified loyalty to Canadian football by committing exclusively to the CFL and the Ottawa organization, forgoing potential pursuits in the NFL to contribute to the growth and success of the league in his home country.[19] His steadfast presence helped foster a winning culture within the Rough Riders, blending individual excellence with team-oriented dynamics that emphasized disciplined execution and community ties in Ottawa.[18]Major achievements and Grey Cups
Russ Jackson led the Ottawa Rough Riders to three Grey Cup championships during his career, winning the 48th Grey Cup in 1960, the 56th in 1968, and the 57th in 1969.[2] In the 1960 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jackson contributed as a key quarterback in a 16-6 defensive battle at Vancouver's Empire Stadium. The 1968 win against the Calgary Stampeders, a 34-10 triumph at Toronto's CNE Stadium, marked Ottawa's return to dominance after an eight-year drought. Jackson capped his playing career with the 1969 Grey Cup, a 29-11 defeat of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Montreal, where he earned Most Valuable Player honors for his performance, including four touchdown passes that set a then-Grey Cup record.[20]Career statistics
Passing and receiving stats
Russ Jackson's professional career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Ottawa Rough Riders spanned 12 seasons from 1958 to 1969, during which he established himself as one of the league's premier passers. Over 166 games, he amassed 24,593 passing yards on 1,356 completions out of 2,530 attempts, achieving a completion percentage of 53.6%, while throwing 185 touchdown passes and 124 interceptions.[21] These totals reflect his evolution from a part-time starter early in his career to a dominant aerial leader, particularly in the latter half of the 1960s. Although primarily known for his quarterbacking, Jackson also contributed minimally as a receiver, recording 8 receptions for 109 yards and 1 touchdown across select seasons (1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1969).[21] The following table summarizes Jackson's year-by-year passing statistics, highlighting his progression in volume and effectiveness:[21]| Year | Attempts | Completions | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 112 | 61 | 858 | 3 | 6 |
| 1959 | 89 | 45 | 1,009 | 7 | 7 |
| 1960 | 52 | 20 | 322 | 2 | 3 |
| 1961 | 117 | 59 | 1,048 | 8 | 7 |
| 1962 | 157 | 78 | 1,427 | 10 | 13 |
| 1963 | 259 | 152 | 2,910 | 19 | 8 |
| 1964 | 230 | 116 | 2,156 | 18 | 15 |
| 1965 | 252 | 130 | 2,303 | 18 | 13 |
| 1966 | 276 | 142 | 2,400 | 17 | 15 |
| 1967 | 323 | 189 | 3,332 | 25 | 9 |
| 1968 | 305 | 171 | 3,187 | 25 | 16 |
| 1969 | 358 | 193 | 3,641 | 33 | 12 |
Rushing and overall performance
Russ Jackson exemplified the dual-threat quarterback archetype in the Canadian Football League (CFL), amassing 5,045 rushing yards on 738 carries over his 12-season career with the Ottawa Rough Riders, while scoring 54 rushing touchdowns.[21][1] This mobility complemented his passing ability, contributing to a career total of 29,638 yards from scrimmage across 166 regular-season games played.[21][22] Jackson earned six Eastern Conference All-Star selections as a quarterback (1962, 1963, 1966–1969) and three CFL All-Star nods (1966, 1968, 1969), reflecting his consistent impact on the field.[1] His rushing production varied by season, peaking in 1968 with 534 yards and six touchdowns, and demonstrating his elusiveness with a career average of 6.8 yards per carry. The following table summarizes his regular-season rushing statistics:| Year | Team | Carries | Yards | Touchdowns | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | OTT | 66 | 357 | 5 | - |
| 1959 | OTT | 69 | 385 | 3 | - |
| 1960 | OTT | 52 | 381 | 6 | - |
| 1961 | OTT | 67 | 472 | 6 | - |
| 1962 | OTT | 71 | 512 | 8 | - |
| 1963 | OTT | 64 | 384 | 5 | - |
| 1964 | OTT | 81 | 588 | 3 | 4 |
| 1965 | OTT | 24 | 129 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | OTT | 65 | 396 | 3 | 2 |
| 1967 | OTT | 61 | 329 | 4 | 5 |
| 1968 | OTT | 54 | 534 | 6 | 6 |
| 1969 | OTT | 64 | 578 | 3 | 3 |
| Career | OTT | 738 | 5,045 | 54 | 21 |