Winners: Russ Jackson, Football
Russ Jackson posing with a football.
Date: 1968
Collection: CP photo
1959 - Feature Story
Drafted primarily as a defensive player, Russ Jackson was named the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player in only his second season in the Canadian Football League. Then as now, Canadian quarterbacks were rare, but Jackson’s versatility and toughness earned him a look at quarterback in Ottawa. Jackson was a rookie in another field that year. He spent the 1958 season commuting to Toronto to earn his teaching certificate and in 1959 he began his career as a high-school mathematics teacher.
1969 - Feature Story
On November 30, 1969, Russ Jackson went out a champion. In his final game, Jackson threw four touchdown passes to lead the Ottawa Rough Riders to a 29-11 Grey Cup victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He won Grey Cup Most Valuable Player honours and was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. No Canadian quarterback has starred in the CFL since Jackson.
Career Highlights
- 1969 Lou Marsh Memorial Trophy
- 1969 Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
- 1960, 1968, 1969 Grey Cup with the Ottawa Rough Riders
- 1959, 1963, 1966, 1969 Schenley Award as Most Outstanding Canadian Player
- 1959, 1969 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
Russ Jackson posing with the Schenley Trophy.
Date: November 24, 1966
Collection: CP photo/Stan Mulcahy
Russ Jackson in full uniform while playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Jackson is posed as if he is ready to throw the football to another player.
Date: 1960’s
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Russ Jackson and an Ottawa Rough Riders teammate resting on a bench during a game.
Date: 1960's
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Russ Jackson and Ron Stewart resting on a bench during a game.
Date: 1960's
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Russ Jackson scoring a touchdown.
Date: 1960's
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Russ Jackson being tackled.
Date: 1960's
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Russ Jackson preparing to throw a football.
Date: 1960's
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
