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George Reed
No. 34     
Personal information
Date of birth: (1939-10-02) October 2, 1939 (age 84)
Place of birth: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Career information
No regular season or postseason appearances
Career history
Roster status: Retired
Career highlights and awards
  • N/A
Canadian Football Hall of Fame

George Robert Reed, CM (born October 2, 1939, in Vicksburg, Mississippi) is a former American college football and Canadian Football League player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history. In November 2006, Reed was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#2) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[1]

Reed played his entire 13 year professional football career for the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders and his #34 jersey is one of eight that has been retired by the club.

College career[]

Reed played Pacific Eight Conference college football with the Washington State University Cougars from 1959 to 1962 where he was teamed with fellow Canadian Football Hall of Famer Hugh Campbell.

CFL[]

Following college, Reed signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he starred for 13 years from 1963 until 1975, 203 games in all. By the time he retired, Reed held career records in rushing yards (16,116), rushing touchdown (134), and touchdowns (137). Reed's rushing yards total has since been surpassed by National Football League stars Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton, and, in 2004 by CFL star Mike Pringle. Pringle tied Reed's total of 137 career touchdowns, and George Reed still holds the CFL rushing for touchdowns record with 134.

George Reed was voted the CFL's Most Outstanding Player for 1965 and in 1976 he was the inaugural winner of the Tom Pate Memorial Trophy for playing ability and community service. Between 1972 and 1981, Reed was President of the CFL Player’s Association. He was the MVP of the 54th Grey Cup of 1966, as Saskatchewan defeated Ottawa, his sole Grey Cup win.

On October 9, 1973, in Regina, Saskatchewan, George Reed was honored with the unique proclamation of October 9 as George Reed Day.

Post-football career[]

A naturalized Canadian citizen who is currently a Corporate Event Host for Casino Regina, Reed was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978, Canada's highest civilian honour, and in 1979 was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[2][3]

In 2012 in honour of the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post used his image on a series of commemorative postage stamps. The image was also used on presentation posters and other materials to promote the Grey Cup game and other celebrations associated with the centennial.

Video clips[]

Seen in game 3 of the 1970 Western finals against Calgary in its entirety

His TD run in the 54th Grey Cup game in 1966

Canadian Football Hall of Fame member

References[]

  1. "TSN Top 50 CFL Players". TSN.ca. 2006-11-28. http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/feature/?fid=10867. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  2. "Pringle chasing down George Reed". TSN.ca (original article by Canadian Press. 2004-09-03. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20070929123956/http://prodtsn.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/news_story/?ID=97369&hubname=cfl-eskimos. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  3. Mitchell, Kevin (2006-04-22). "The might-have-beens of George Reed". Edmonton Journal (original article appeared in Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=16743c5f-5972-4a5b-9ee9-59910918b815. Retrieved 2007-07-05.

External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Lovell Coleman
CFL's Most Outstanding Player
1965
Succeeded by
Russ Jackson
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