1975 CFL season

The 1975 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 22nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 18th Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 1975
Calgary became the first city in the Canadian Prairie Provinces to host the Grey Cup championship game. CFL changed the rules on blocking by allowing contact to be above waist level on punt returns. The two-point convert was introduced to the league.

Tragedy struck the CFL on October 11, when Hamilton Tiger-Cats star defensive lineman Tom Pate suffered an aneurysm in the fourth quarter against the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium. Pate was not able to regain consciousness and eventually died two days later at the age of 23. A year later, the CFLPA announced the Tom Pate Memorial Award in his honour to be awarded to the player who best personifies a unique combination of outstanding sportsmanship and dedication to the league and the community.

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 Ottawa have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs
The Edmonton Eskimos are the 1975 Grey Cup champions, defeating the Montreal Alouettes, 9–8, at Calgary's McMahon Stadium. This was the first Grey Cup game to be held in the prairies. Montreal's Steve Ferrughelli (RB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and Lewis Cook (DB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence. Edmonton's Dave Cutler (K) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Offence

 * QB – Ron Lancaster, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * RB – Willie Burden, Calgary Stampeders
 * RB – Art Green, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * RB – Johnny Rodgers, Montreal Alouettes
 * TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes
 * TE – Tony Gabriel, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * WR – George McGowan, Edmonton Eskimos
 * C – Wayne Conrad, Montreal Alouettes
 * C – Al Wilson, BC Lions
 * OG – Dave Braggins, Montreal Alouettes
 * OG – Willie Martin, Edmonton Eskimos
 * OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos
 * OT – Dan Yochum, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

 * DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders
 * DT – Glen Weir, Montreal Alouettes
 * DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts
 * DE – Bill Baker, BC Lions
 * LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * LB – Larry Cameron, BC Lions
 * LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes
 * DB – Rod Woodward, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Lorne Richardson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * DB – Vern Roberson, Calgary Stampeders
 * DB – Dickie Harris, Montreal Alouettes

1975 CFL Awards

 * CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Willie Burden (RB), Calgary Stampeders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Jim Foley (WR), Ottawa Rough Riders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Jim Corrigall (DE), Toronto Argonauts
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Charlie Turner (OT), Edmonton Eskimos
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Tom Clements (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders
 * CFL's Coach of the Year – George Brancato, Ottawa Rough Riders