1972 CFL season

The 1972 CFL season is considered to be the 19th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 15th Canadian Football League season.

CFL news in 1972
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame was officially opened on November 28, 1972, in Hamilton. The Grey Cup game was played on AstroTurf at nearby Ivor Wynne Stadium.

The Western Conference Finals were now played under a single-elimination game. The Eastern Conference continued to play a two-game total-point series affair in their Conference Final round until the following season, when it adopted the West's single-game elimination in the Conference Final round as well.

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.
 * Winnipeg and Hamilton have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs
Note: All dates in 1972

Conference Finals
This game was especially notable for its final play. The game was tied and Saskatchewan attempted a last-second field goal to win, or at least score a single. The kick missed wide, and was recovered by Winnipeg in the end zone. As they were unable to run it out, they punted. The Saskatchewan player who fielded the punt attempted to score a single (winning the game) by punting it through the end zone again, but was unsuccessful, and the punt was fielded by Winnipeg, who punted it out again. The Saskatchewan returner was tackled, ending the play and presumably the game, but a Winnipeg penalty negated the play and gave Saskatchewan another chance. The second Saskatchewan field goal attempt, with no time on the clock, was successful.

CFL Leaders

 * CFL Passing Leaders
 * CFL Rushing Leaders
 * CFL Receiving Leaders

Offence

 * QB – Don Jonas, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * RB – Mack Herron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes
 * TE – Tony Gabriel, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * WR – Garney Henley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * WR – Jim Young, BC Lions
 * C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OG – Bob Lueck, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

 * DT – Jim Stillwagon, Toronto Argonauts
 * DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders
 * DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * LB – Dave Gasser, Edmonton Eskimos
 * LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions
 * LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DB – Grady Cavness, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts

Offence

 * QB – Chuck Ealey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * RB – Ike Brown, Montreal Alouettes
 * RB – Moses Denson, Montreal Alouettes
 * RB – Dave Buchanan, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * TE – Peter Dalla Riva, Montreal Alouettes
 * TE – Tony Gabriel, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * WR – Garney Henley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * WR – Eric Allen, Toronto Argonauts
 * C – Paul Desjardins, Toronto Argonauts
 * OG – Ed Chalupka, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * OG – Jon Hohman, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * OT – Bill Danychuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * OT – Ed George, Montreal Alouettes

Defence

 * DT – Jim Stillwagon, Toronto Argonauts
 * DT – Rudy Sims, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DE – George Wells, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DE – Jim Corrigall, Toronto Argonauts
 * DE – Wayne Smith, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * LB – Mike Widger, Montreal Alouettes
 * LB – Gene Mack, Toronto Argonauts
 * LB – Jerry Campbell, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Al Brenner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DB – Johnny Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * DB – Rod Woodward, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Dick Adams, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * DB – Marv Luster, Toronto Argonauts

Offence

 * QB – Don Jonas, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – George Reed, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * RB – Mack Herron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * RB – Tom Campana, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * TE – Tyrone Walls, Edmonton Eskimos
 * WR – Gerry Shaw, Calgary Stampeders
 * WR – Jim Thorpe, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * WR – Jim Young, BC Lions
 * C – Bob Swift, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OG – Bob Lueck, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OG – Jack Abendschan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * OG – Larry Watkins, Edmonton Eskimos
 * OT – Bill Frank, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * OT – Charlie Turner, Edmonton Eskimos

Defence

 * DT – Joe Critchlow, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DT – John Helton, Calgary Stampeders
 * DT – John LaGrone, Edmonton Eskimos
 * DE – Bill Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * DE – Jim Heighton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * LB – Dave Gasser, Edmonton Eskimos
 * LB – Ray Nettles, BC Lions
 * LB – Mickey Doyle, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Frank Andruski, Calgary Stampeders
 * DB – Bruce Bennett, Saskatchewan Roughriders
 * DB – Grady Cavness, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Dick Dupuis, Edmonton Eskimos
 * DB – Gene Lakusiak, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DB – Larry Robinson, Calgary Stampeders

1972 CFL Awards

 * CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Jim Young (WR), BC Lions
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Lineman Award – John Helton (DT), Calgary Stampeders
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Chuck Ealey (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * CFL's Coach of the Year – Jack Gotta, Ottawa Rough Riders
 * Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy (Eastern MVP) – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (Western MVP) - Mack Herron (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * Gruen Trophy (Eastern Rookie of the Year) - Bob Richardson (OL), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
 * Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Western Rookie of the Year) - Walt McKee (K/P), Winnipeg Blue Bombers
 * DeMarco–Becket Memorial Trophy (Western Outstanding Lineman) - John Helton (DT), Calgary Stampeders