The 1971 CFL season is considered to be the 18th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football () is a sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's scoring area ( ...

, although it was officially the 14th

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

season.

CFL News for 1971

The Grey Cup Championship was played on artificial turf for the first time in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

. The

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first seas ...

also wore special "CCC"-logo helmets to commemorate the Canadian Confederation Centennial of

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, the province having entered into

Canadian Confederation Canadian Confederation (french: Confédération canadienne, link=no) was the process by which three British North American provinces, the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, were united into one federation called the Dominion ...

a hundred years earlier, in 1871. The flower in the centre of the "CCC" logo is the

pacific dogwood ''Cornus nuttallii'', the Pacific dogwood, western dogwood, or mountain dogwood, is a species of dogwood tree native to western North America. Description It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, reaching tall, often with a canopy spre ...

, the official provincial flower of British Columbia. All CFL teams had their player's last names appearing on the jersey backs (at shoulder height, above the back number) beginning this season. This would be the last year until 2006 that the Edmonton Eskimos would miss the playoffs; in the intervening years, they would reach the playoffs for 33 straight years.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text indicates that the team clinched a playoff berth. *''Calgary and Toronto had first round byes.''

1971 Grey Cup Playoffs

Conference Semi-Finals

Conference Finals

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

1971 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Don Jonas Donald Walter Jonas (born December 3, 1938) is a former American football player and coach. Jonas played in the American minor leagues (semi-pro) and the Canadian Football League. He was also the first head coach of the UCF Knights (1979–1981). ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB – Jim Evenson, BC Lions *RB – Leon McQuay, Toronto Argonauts *TE – Mel Profit, Toronto Argonauts *SE –

Jim Thorpe James Francis Thorpe ( Sac and Fox (Sauk): ''Wa-Tho-Huk'', translated as "Bright Path"; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. A member of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was the first Nativ ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR – Bob LaRose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG –

Jack Abendschan Jack Abendschan (born December 18, 1942) is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman and placekicker who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1965 through 1975. Professional career Jack Abendschan began his career with the Sask ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Granville Liggins, Calgary Stampeders *OT –

Bill Frank William B. Frank, Jr. (April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2014) was a Canadian football offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in the ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

*DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders *DT –

Jim Stillwagon James R. Stillwagon (February 11, 1949 – February 4, 2018) was an American football player who played five years in the Canadian Football League and was a two-time All-American during his college career. Stillwagon was a three-year starter ...

, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts *DE –

Craig Koinzan Craig Koinzan (born c. 1948) is a former Canadian football player who played for the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos. He won the Grey Cup with Calgary in 1971. He played college football at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska Crete is a c ...

, Calgary Stampeders *LB –

Wayne Harris Carroll Wayne Harris (May 4, 1938 – June 4, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1961 through 1972. His son, Wayne Harris, Jr., coaches f ...

, Calgary Stampeders *LB – Mark Kosmos, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Dick Dupuis, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders *DB –

Garney Henley Garney Henley (born December 21, 1935) is an American former professional football player, who played in the Canadian Football League. College career Garney Henley attended Huron College in South Dakota, playing as a running back from 1956 to ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Dick Thornton, Toronto Argonauts

1971 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Joe Theismann Joseph Robert Theismann (born September 9, 1949) is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, corporate speaker and restaurateur. He rose to fame playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canad ...

, Toronto Argonauts *RB – Dennis Duncan, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB – Bruce Van Ness, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Leon McQuay, Toronto Argonauts *TE – Mel Profit, Toronto Argonauts *SE –

Terry Evanshen Terrence Anthony "Terry" Evanshen (born June 13, 1944) is a motivational speaker and former star receiver in the Canadian Football League. CFL Drafted by the Montreal Alouettes, Terry went on to have an outstanding career in the CFL playing for ...

, Montreal Alouettes *WR –

Mike Eben Michael Eben (born January 29, 1946) is a former wide receiver who played ten seasons in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. Eben also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ottawa Rough Riders and Edmonton Eskimos. Eben w ...

, Toronto Argonauts *C – Paul Desjardins, Toronto Argonauts *OG – Charlie Bray, Toronto Argonauts *OG –

Justin Canale Justin Dominic Canale (April 11, 1943 – October 11, 2011) was an American collegiate and professional football player who played offensive lineman for five seasons in the American Football League (AFL), for the Boston Patriots and Cincinnati B ...

, Montreal Alouettes *OT –

Ellison Kelly Ellison Lamar Kelly (May 17, 1935 – February 11, 2016) was an American and Canadian football offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1960–1970 and the Toronto Argonauts from 1971-1972 of the Canadian Football League. He also playe ...

, Toronto Argonauts *OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

*DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders *DT –

, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Tom Laputka, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB –

Mike Blum Mike Blum (October 24, 1942 – December 16, 2008) was a Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League. He played five seasons for the Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Mark Kosmos, Montreal Alouettes *LB –

Steve Smear Steve Smear (born May 18, 1948) is a former defensive end and linebacker for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a CFL All-Star in 1970 and was a part of a Grey Cup victory for the Alouettes. He was named an All- ...

, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Gene Gaines, Montreal Alouettes *DB –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Dick Thornton, Toronto Argonauts

1971 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB – Jim Evenson, BC Lions *RB – Mack Herron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *TE – Herm Harrison, Calgary Stampeders *SE –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR – Bob LaRose, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C – Basil Bark, Calgary Stampeders *OG –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Granville Liggins, Calgary Stampeders *OT –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT –

Ken Sugarman Ken Sugarman (born June 16, 1942) is a former professional Canadian football player with the Canadian Football League's the British Columbia Lions. After playing college football at Whitworth College, Sugarman spent his entire 9-year CFL career as ...

, BC Lions

Defence

*DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders *DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos *DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DE – Dick Suderman, Calgary Stampeders *DE –

, Calgary Stampeders *LB –

Dave Gasser David Gasser (born October 7, 1942) is an American-born Canadian football player who played for the Edmonton Eskimos., where he wore jersey uniform number 65. He previously played football at West Texas State University. He later worked as a polic ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Rob McLaren, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *LB – Wayne Shaw, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB – Dick Dupuis, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders *DB –

Bruce Bennett Bruce Bennett (born Harold Herman Brix, also credited Herman Brix; May 19, 1906February 24, 2007) was an American film and television actor who prior to his screen career was a highly successful college athlete in football and in both intercol ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –

Larry Robinson Larry Clark Robinson (born June 2, 1951) is a Canadian former ice hockey coach, executive and player. His coaching career includes head coaching positions with the New Jersey Devils (which he held on two occasions), as well as the Los Angeles Ki ...

, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Howard Starks, Calgary Stampeders

1971 CFL Awards

* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award –

(QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award –

(WR), Montreal Alouettes *

CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award The Most Outstanding Lineman Award was an award annually given to the best defensive player or offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League from the year 1955 to 1973. By the 1974 season, the league decided to make two separate awards for bo ...

–

(LB), Calgary Stampeders * CFL's Coach of the Year – Leo Cahill, Toronto Argonauts *

Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding football player of the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ) The trophy was originally presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanshi ...

(Eastern MVP) – Mel Profit (TE), Toronto Argonauts * Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (Western MVP) -

(QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * Gruen Trophy (Eastern Rookie of the Year) -

Jim Foley Jim Foley (born October 27, 1946) is a former award-winning slotback in the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in the 1970 CFL College Draft, winning the CFL's Rookie of the Year Award in 1971, and later won the ...

(SB), Montreal Alouettes * Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Bob Kraemer (DB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) -

(LB), Calgary Stampeders

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971 Cfl Season CFL Canadian Football League seasons