Jerry Keeling (August 2, 1939 – January 20, 2018) was a quarterback and defensive back in the Canadian Football League (CFL), playing fifteen seasons from 1961 to 1975 for the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. For his great play, he became a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

Jerry Keeling
No. 10, 14
Date of birth(1939-08-02)August 2, 1939
Place of birthParis, Texas, U.S.
Date of deathJanuary 20, 2018(2018-01-20) (aged 78)
Place of deathTulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Career information
StatusRetired
CFL statusInternational
Position(s)QB/DB
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight175 lb (79 kg)
US collegeTulsa
Career history
As player
19611972Calgary Stampeders
19731975Ottawa Rough Riders
1975Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1964, 1965, 1967
CFL West All-Star19641968
Career stats

Calgary Stampeders

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The Paris, Texas-born Enid, Oklahoma-reared Keeling was a member of the Stampeders from 1961 to 1972, playing defensive back and quarterback positions. It was only in 1969 that Keeling became the starting quarterback. Keeling was the winning quarterback in the 1970 Western Conference finals in a best of 3 series against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the final game in brutally cold weather (see video clip below) won by Calgary by a score of 15–14, one of the coldest football games ever.[citation needed]

But the team lost the 58th Grey Cup game played on a very muddy field to the Montreal Alouettes. However, after beating Saskatchewan again in the Western Conference finals in 1971, he beat the Toronto Argonauts during the rainy 59th Grey Cup game, his first championship victory.[citation needed]

Ottawa Rough Riders

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Keeling became an Ottawa Rough Rider from 1973 to 1975. In 1973, he was their starting quarterback and led his team to the 61st Grey Cup. However, he was replaced by Rick Cassata in the title game because of an injury.[1] Ottawa won that game, Keeling's second and last Grey Cup win.[citation needed]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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He ended his career in 1975 as the starting quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which finished 5–10–1 yet made the playoffs, though defeated on the first round by the Alouettes.[citation needed]

Coaching

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Keeling was an assistant coach for the Stampeders from 1982 to 1983.

Death

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Keeling died on Saturday, January 20, 2018. At the time of his death he was living in Oklahoma with his wife Vella.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ "Jerry Keeling". Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "Former Stampeders quarterback Jerry Keeling dies at 78". January 20, 2018.
  3. ^ Deaths published Jan. 22, 2018
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