Should Chuck Ealey Be In the CFL Hall of Fame?

[jerrym]

Former Argo, Ticat and Bomber QB Chuck Ealey is in the CFL Hall of Fame. Considering not only his accomplishments on the field but what he his success did to promote the use of Black QBs, I, like his grandson, think that he should.

He may not be in the @cfbhall of fame yet, but he’s a hall of famer in his grandson’s eyes! #newbedroom @Ticats @jplondondesign @colinjustin @NCAA @ToledoFB pic.twitter.com/mvuOZ6zaRs

— Skye (@BowenSkye) January 24, 2018

[jerrym]

The CFLapedia profile does not mention earlier Black QBs such as Bernie Custis or Sandy Stephens but Ealey's success did help pave the wave of Black QBs who followed him in both the CFL and later the NFL.

While Warren Moon is often credited with demonstrating that an African American can play QB and excel at the position in the pros, he was not the first black QB in the CFL. Before there was Moon, there was Conredge Holloway in 1975 and before Holloway there was Chuck Ealey in 1972. Ealey burst into the CFL in 1972 with Hamilton and was named the Outstanding Rookie in the CFL. Ealey completed 58.4% of his passes for 2573 yards and 22 toudhdowns in that rookie season as he was named the East All-Star QB. Ealey also guided the Tiger-Cats to a Grey Cup win over Saskatchewan in his rookie season. Ealey put up similar stats in 1973, completing 58.6% of his passes for 2312 yards. Ealey ws a "protyptical" CFL QB, dangerous running the ball as well as passing, picking up 515 yards in his rookie season and 687 yards in his second year. In 1974, however, things soured for Ealy as he got off toa slow start in Hamilton and with 8 interceptions to only 2TD passes, Ealey was traded West to the Blue Bombers in exchange for QB Don Jonas. Ealey finsished the 74 season with Winnpeg and was with them for most of 1975, but was displaced by an up and coming QB named Dieter Brock and he was dealt to Toronto. Ealey played three more seasons in Toronto from 1976 to 1978, putting up good numbers, though not as good as his first two seasons n the CFL.

http://www.cflapedia.com/Players/e/ealey_chuck.htm

[ArgoGabe22]

Deserves it more than Kevin Glenn

[paulwoods13]

The son's tweet referred to the College Football Hall of Fame, not the Cdn Football Hall of Fame. Regardless, as great a guy as Chuck is, he's not close to a Hall of Famer in Canada. Even Kevin Glenn is more deserving, and that's not saying much.