1974 CFL season
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The 1974 CFL season is considered to be the 21st 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 17th
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 1974

The Eastern Conference extended its
regular season In an organized sports league, a typical season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session: for example, in Major League Baseball the season lasts approximately from the last week of March to the last week of Se ...
schedule from 14 to 16 games in 1974. The
Western Football Conference Western Football Conference may refer to: * Canadian Football League West Division, one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League * Western Football Conference (United States) The Western Football Conference was an NCAA Divisi ...
had been playing a 16-game schedule since 1952. ORFU, which had not competed for the Grey Cup in 20 seasons and had dropped to amateur status, ceased to exist. The Montreal Alouettes change their colours to red, white and blue, and adopt the triangular logo with the Montreal colours in it on a navy blue helmet. The first players' strike in league history occurred during training camp. The strike was settled prior to the beginning of the regular season. No games were cancelled as a result of the dispute. It was this strike, which coincided with a similarly timed strike in the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
, which brought into existence the
World Football League The World Football League (WFL) was an American football league that played one full season in 1974 and most of its second in 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest t ...
, a potential rival league to both the NFL and CFL, and one of the WFL's teams was to be placed in Toronto. In retaliation, Canadian Parliament introduced (but never passed) the
Canadian Football Act The ''Canadian Football Act'' (1974), also known in its long title as ''An Act respecting Canadian Professional Football'', was a proposed Act by the Parliament of Canada in April 1974 designed to give a government-protected monopoly over profe ...
, which would have given the CFL a government-enforced monopoly on professional football in Canada. The spectre of the bill prompted the Toronto franchise owner to relocate his team to the U.S. before it began play, and the only presence the WFL would ever have in Canada was a single game in
London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...
, a city where the CFL had (and still has today) no direct presence.


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. *''Edmonton and Montreal have first round byes.''


Grey Cup playoffs

The
Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the Canadian F ...
are the 1974
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 ...
champions, defeating the
Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...
, 20–7, at
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 ...
's Empire Stadium. Montreal's
Sonny Wade Jesse "Sonny" Wade (born April 1, 1947) is a former All-American football player at Emory & Henry College in Virginia. He played professionally for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League from 1969 to 1978. High school Wade attend ...
(QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and
Junior Ah You Miki "Junior" Ah You (born December 30, 1948) is a former college and professional Canadian and American football player who played primarily at the defensive end position. Ah You enjoyed most of his professional career success with the CFL Montr ...
(DE) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence. Montreal's
Don Sweet Don Sweet (born July 13, 1948) is a former star football kicker for the Montreal Alouettes and Montreal Concordes of the Canadian Football League. College years Sweet graduated from Washington State University in 1971. He was a Pacific-10 Confer ...
(K) was named
Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian The Dick Suderman Trophy (french: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian (''Le Canadien le plus précieux de la Coupe Grey'') is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup ...
.


Playoff bracket


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 F ...
*
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 ...


1974 CFL All-Stars


Offence

*QB –
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB –
Lou Harris Lou Harris (born January 1, 1950) is a former all-star Canadian Football League running back. A graduate of USC, Harris played 4 seasons with the British Columbia Lions. His best year, his second, 1974 saw him rush for 1239 yards, 3rd best in th ...
, BC Lions *RB – Roy Bell, Edmonton Eskimos *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 –
Johnny Rodgers Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) is an American former football player. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and won the Heisman Trophy in 1972. Rodgers played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) ...
, Montreal Alouettes *WR – Rhome Nixon, Ottawa Rough Riders *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 – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Curtis Wester, BC Lions *OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Larry Watkins, Edmonton Eskimos


Defence

*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 *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 – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE – George Wells, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Roger Goree, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Al Marcelin, Ottawa Rough Riders *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 –
Larry Highbaugh Larry Highbaugh (January 14, 1949 – March 21, 2017) was an American defensive back who played with the BC Lions from 1971 to 1972 and the Edmonton Eskimos from 1972 to 1983 of the Canadian Football League. He won six Grey Cup championships whi ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Lorne Richardson, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB – Dickie Harris, Montreal Alouettes


1974 Eastern All-Stars


Offence

*QB – Jimmy Jones, Montreal Alouettes *RB –
Andy Hopkins Andrew P. Hopkins Sr. was an all-star Canadian Football League (CFL) running back. Andrew "Shay" Hopkins, a native of Crockett, Texas attended Ralph Bunche High School. He was a member of the High School Choir, Ralph Bunche Gazette, Year-book S ...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *RB – Art Green, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB – Steve Ferrughelli, 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 –
Johnny Rodgers Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) is an American former football player. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and won the Heisman Trophy in 1972. Rodgers played professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL) ...
, Montreal Alouettes *WR – Rhome Nixon, Ottawa Rough Riders *C –
Bob McKeown Robert Duff McKeown, (; born October 10, 1950) is a Canadian investigative reporter and former all-star and championship Gridiron football, football player. He has also worked with NBC and CBS. McKeown returned to the CBC in November 2002 to ...
, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes *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 *OT –
Noah Jackson Noah Jackson (born April 14, 1951) is a former American football player who played offensive lineman for ten seasons between 1975 and 1984 for the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Previously, he played three seasons for the Toronto A ...
, Toronto Argonauts *OT –
Dan Yochum Dan Yochum (August 19, 1950 – August 26, 2020) was an American professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes from 1972–1980 and the Edmonton Eskimos in 1980 of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He wo ...
, Montreal Alouettes


Defence

*DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders *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 – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE –
Junior Ah You Miki "Junior" Ah You (born December 30, 1948) is a former college and professional Canadian and American football player who played primarily at the defensive end position. Ah You enjoyed most of his professional career success with the CFL Montr ...
, Montreal Alouettes *LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes *LB –
Chuck Zapiec Chuck Zapiec (born July 1, 1949) is a former All-American linebacker at Penn State and defensive captain of the Cotton Bowl Champion Nittany Lions. He earned his All-American Status as a linebacker in the only year that he played linebacker at ...
, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Al Marcelin, Ottawa Rough Riders *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 – Rod Woodward, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Dickie Harris, Montreal Alouettes *DB – Phil Price, Montreal Alouettes


1974 Western All-Stars


Offence

*QB –
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders *RB –
Lou Harris Lou Harris (born January 1, 1950) is a former all-star Canadian Football League running back. A graduate of USC, Harris played 4 seasons with the British Columbia Lions. His best year, his second, 1974 saw him rush for 1239 yards, 3rd best in th ...
, BC Lions *RB – Roy Bell, Edmonton Eskimos *SB – Rudy Linterman, Calgary Stampeders *TE – Tyrone Walls, Edmonton Eskimos *WR –
Tom Forzani Tom Forzani (born June 15, 1951) is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the CFL Calgary Stampeders. He played from 1973 to 1983 for the Stampeders. He is one of three Forzani brothers to play for their hometown Stampeders, along with J ...
, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Tom Scott, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *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 – Ralph Galloway, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Curtis Wester, BC Lions *OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Larry Watkins, Edmonton Eskimos


Defence

*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 *DT – Garrett Hunsperger, BC Lions *DE – Jim Heighton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DE – George Wells, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions *LB –
Pete Wysocki Peter Joseph Wysocki (October 3, 1948 – June 14, 2003) was an American football linebacker who played his entire six-year career with the Washington Redskins from 1975 to 1980 in the National Football League (NFL). Wysocki previously played ...
, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Roger Goree, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Paul Williams, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB –
Chuck Willis Harold "Chuck" Willis (January 31, 1926 – April 10, 1958) was an American blues, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll singer and songwriter. His biggest hits, " C. C. Rider" (1957) and "What Am I Living For" (1958), both reached No.1 on the ''Bil ...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB –
Larry Highbaugh Larry Highbaugh (January 14, 1949 – March 21, 2017) was an American defensive back who played with the BC Lions from 1971 to 1972 and the Edmonton Eskimos from 1972 to 1983 of the Canadian Football League. He won six Grey Cup championships whi ...
, Edmonton Eskimos *DB – Lorne Richardson, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB –
Ted Provost Ted R. Provost (born July 26, 1948, in Navarre, Ohio) is a former star high school, university and professional football player. As a high school athlete at Fairless High School he lettered three seasons as a quarterback and defensive back. H ...
, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB – Howard Starks, Calgary Stampeders


1974 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 ...
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (born 5 February 1948)Born January–March 1948, according to the ''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com is an English actor of film, television, and stage. He has rece ...
(QB), Edmonton Eskimos * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award
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. ...
(TE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats *
CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian football League. The winner of the award is selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada along with the head coaches in the CFL. ...
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 ...
(DT), Calgary Stampeders *
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually awarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Leo Dandurand Trophy winner from the East Division, and the DeMarco-Becket Memor ...
Ed George (OG), Montreal Alouettes *
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 ...
Sam Cvijanovich (LB), Toronto Argonauts * CFL's Coach of the YearMarv Levy, Montreal Alouettes


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 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