American-born Chuck Ealey burst onto the Canadian professional football scene like a spectacular comet and made believers of the fans in his very first year here. That was in 1972 and here was this young quarterback with a strong arm and an equally strong desire to run with the ball fresh out of the University of Toledo. What he achieved in his first crack at Canadian football was winning the Canadian Football League’s Schenley Award as the outstanding rookie of the year while guiding the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Grey Cup victory. For the next six years, until he bid farewell to the game, Chuck proved to be a strong performer in the CFL.

    

      Ealey was born in Portsmouth,Ohio. Like many American boys, Chuck received a solid football education good and early in high school. It took him to the University of Toledo where he won many honours. Between 1969 and 1971, he led the Rockets to two Tangerine Bowl wins and also appeared in the All-American conference game. At the end of his university football career, he held an unprecedented six school passing records.

    

     From Toledo he went straight to the Hamilton Ticats. Chuck’s first year in Canadian professional football in ‘72 was outstanding. He completed 148 passes in 253 attempts for a total of 2,573 yards and passed for 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for 519 yards in 87 carries and scored four rushing TDs.For his stellar efforts, he was voted All-Eastern Conference quarterback, won the Schenley Award as outstanding rookie and, a piece de resistance, led the Tiger-Cats to a thrilling last-minute victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Grey Cup game. More than being selected as the game’s Most Valuable Player, the sweet taste of Grey Cup win ranks among the most memorable moments of Chuck’s storied professional football career.

   The year after winning their Grey Cup, the Ticats struggled and in the middle of the 1974 CFL campaign, Chuck was traded to Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Late in the ‘75 season, he was traded again, this time to the Toronto Argonauts. During the 1975 season, he completed 102 passes in 196 attempts for 1,535 yards. He also ran with the ball 99 times and scored a pair of TDs.

     Ealey’s last three years with the Boatmen were equally consistent and impressive.

     Following his heroics on the gridiron, Chuck turned his attention and racquetball and soon was highly ranked player on the Canadian chart. Chuck moved to Mississauga in 1974, where he and wife, Sherri, raised their three children: Damon, Skye and Jael.