The 1972 CFL season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football () is a team sport, 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 sco ...

, although it is officially the 15th

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 in 1972

The

Canadian Football Hall of Fame The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is maintained by the Canadian Football League (CFL). It includes displays about t ...

was officially opened on November 28, 1972, in

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

. The

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

game was played on

AstroTurf AstroTurf is an American subsidiary of SportGroup that produces artificial turf for playing surfaces in sports. The original AstroTurf product was a short-pile synthetic turf invented in 1965 by Monsanto. Since the early 2000s, AstroTurf has m ...

at nearby

Ivor Wynne Stadium Ivor Wynne Stadium (formerly Civic Stadium) was a Canadian football stadium located at the corner of Balsam and Beechwood avenues, two blocks west of Gage Avenue North in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The stadium was the home of the Hamilton Tiger ...

. The Western Conference Finals were now played under a single-elimination game. The Eastern Conference continued to play a two-game total-point series affair in their Conference Final round until the following season, when it adopted the West's single-game elimination in the Conference Final round as well.

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 means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Winnipeg and Hamilton have first round byes.''

Grey Cup playoffs

''Note: All dates in 1972''

Conference Semi-Finals

Conference Finals

This game was especially notable for its final play. The game was tied and Saskatchewan attempted a last-second field goal to win, or at least score a single. The kick missed wide, and was recovered by Winnipeg in the end zone. As they were unable to run it out, they punted. The Saskatchewan player who fielded the punt attempted to score a single (winning the game) by punting it through the end zone again, but was unsuccessful, and the punt was fielded by Winnipeg, who punted it out again. The Saskatchewan returner was tackled, ending the play and presumably the game, but a Winnipeg penalty negated the play and gave Saskatchewan another chance. The second Saskatchewan field goal attempt, with no time on the clock, was successful.

Playoff bracket

Grey Cup Championship

CFL Leaders

CFL Passing Leaders 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 ...

CFL Rushing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian Fo ...

CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian ...

1972 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 –

Mack Herron Mack Willie Herron (July 24, 1948 – December 6, 2015) was a professional American football running back who played in the National Football League from 1973 to 1976. He played college football at Kansas State, where he finished second in the na ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *TE –

Peter Dalla Riva Peter Dalla Riva (born December 11, 1946), is a former professional Canadian football player with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League at the tight end and wide receiver positions. Dalla Riva played with the Alouettes for his en ...

, Montreal Alouettes *TE –

Tony Gabriel Anthony Michael Peter Gabriel (born December 11, 1948) is a former professional Canadian football pass receiver who played in the Canadian Football League from 1971 to 1981. He played for both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders. ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *WR –

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 *WR –

Jim Young James Norman Young (born June 6, 1943) is a former professional American football and Canadian football player. Young played running back and wide receiver for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings for two seasons (1965–66), and the CFL's BC Lions f ...

, BC Lions *C –

Bob Swift Robert Virgil Swift (March 6, 1915 – October 17, 1966) was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, standing tall and weighing . He threw and batted right-handed. ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG – Bob Lueck, 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 *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 Na ...

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

Defence

*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 *DT –

John Helton John Helton (born 23 May 1947) is a former defensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders from 1969 to 1978 and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1979 to 1982 of the Canadian Football League. High school and college John Helton graduated from Captai ...

, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders *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 –

Ray Nettles Ray Nettles (August 1, 1949 – September 29, 2009) was a football linebacker at the University of Tennessee who played professional Canadian football from 1972-1980. He was a five-time Canadian Football League All-Star and Hall of Famer. Early ...

, BC Lions *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB –

Grady Cavness Grady Cavness (born March 1, 1947) is a former American football defensive back. He played for the Denver Broncos in 1969 and for the Atlanta Falcons in 1970. He later joined the CFL and played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1972 to 1973 an ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB –

Dick Adams Dick Adams may refer to: * Dick Adams (politician) (born 1951), Australian politician * Dick Adams (baseball) (1920–2016), American Major League Baseball player * Dick Adams (Canadian football) (born 1948), Canadian football player See also * R ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –

Marv Luster Marvin Luster (November 27, 1937 – May 25, 2020) was an American football defensive back and end. He played college football at UCLA and professional football in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for from 1961 to 1974. He was inducted into ...

, Toronto Argonauts

1972 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Chuck Ealey Charles "Chuck" Ealey (born January 6, 1950) is a former American Canadian football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He became the first black quarterback to win the ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *RB – Ike Brown, Montreal Alouettes *RB –

Moses Denson Moses Denson (born July 6, 1944) is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Denson played three seasons for the ...

, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *TE –

, Montreal Alouettes *TE –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *WR –

Eric Allen Eric Andre Allen (born November 22, 1965) is an American football coach and former cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001. A six-time ...

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

Ed Chalupka Edward Chalupka (February 23, 1947 – November 17, 2019) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) player. He played college football at the University of North Carolina. Calupka played his entire professional career as a guard for the Hamilton Tig ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OG –

Jon Hohman Jon Carl Hohman (October 23, 1942 – August 2, 2018) was a player in the American Football League for the Denver Broncos in 1965 and 1966 as a guard. He played at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was also an all star and Grey Cup champi ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

*DT –

, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE – George Wells, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE –

Jim Corrigall Jim Corrigall (born May 7, 1946) is a Canadian former gridiron football player and coach. He was all-star defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. High school and college Corrigall played football in high school at Scollard Hall, a pr ...

, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Gene Mack, Toronto Argonauts *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Rod Woodward, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –

, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –

, Toronto Argonauts

1972 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB –

Tom Campana Tom Campana (born January 18, 1950) is a former award-winning and all-star slotback who played in the Canadian Football League from 1972 to 1977 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. A native of Kent, Ohio, and a graduate of his home state Ohio Sta ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *TE – Tyrone Walls, Edmonton Eskimos *WR – Gerry Shaw, Calgary Stampeders *WR –

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 Native ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR –

, BC Lions *C –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG – Bob Lueck, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Larry Watkins, Edmonton Eskimos *OT –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos

Defence

*DT – Joe Critchlow, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DT –

, Calgary Stampeders *DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos *DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DE – Jim Heighton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *LB –

, Edmonton Eskimos *LB –

, BC Lions *LB –

Mickey Doyle Mieczyslaw "Mickey Doyle" Kuzik is a fictional character in the HBO TV series ''Boardwalk Empire''. He is played by Paul Sparks. Mickey Doyle is loosely based on Polish American mobster Mickey Duffy. Mickey is a gangster in Prohibition-era Atla ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *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 –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Dick Dupuis, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Gene Lakusiak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *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

1972 CFL Awards

CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Terry Evanshen Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winner from ...

–

(WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award –

(WR), BC Lions *

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 ...

–

(DT), Calgary Stampeders *

CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually awarded to the player judged to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Frank M. Gibson Trophy winner from the East Division, and the ...

–

(QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats * CFL's Coach of the Year –

Jack Gotta Jack "Jocko" Gotta (November 14, 1929 – June 29, 2013) was an American-born Canadian professional football player, coach, and general manager. Gotta played Tight End at Oregon State in 1952 and Hamilton Air Force Base from 1954-1956. He sig ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *

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) –

(WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats *

Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy The Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy is a trophy awarded to the Canadian Football League West Division's most outstanding player, chosen from the nominees from each team in the division. Either this trophy winner or the winner of the Terry Evanshen T ...

(Western MVP) -

(RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * Gruen Trophy (Eastern Rookie of the Year) - Bob Richardson (OL), Hamilton Tiger-Cats * Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Walt McKee (K/P), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) -

(DT), Calgary Stampeders

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972 Cfl Season

CFL 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 ...

Canadian Football League seasons