Mel Profit (born July 30, 1941 in New York, New York) was a football player in the CFL for six years. He was selected originally by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1963 NFL Draft. He starred as a tight end for the Toronto Argonauts.
Mel authored a book entitled For Love, Money and Future Considerations which gave a player's view of the CFL. The book chronicled the 1971 season in which the Toronto Argonauts played in the Grey Cup, losing to the Calgary Stampeders.
Before re-purposing in 1973 the trophy was awarded to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the IRFU or the CFL East