Notable NFL/CFL Crossovers

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 23, 2006

Notable NFL/CFL Crossovers

Rocket Ismail

The electrifying kick returner out of Notre Dame spurned the NFL to take an amazing $18.2 million, four-year deal from the Toronto Argonauts in 1991. He joined the Raiders in 1993 and played nine seasons in the NFL.

Tom Cousineau

The first overall pick of the 1979 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, Cousineau chose instead to play for Montreal and was Grey Cup MVP as a rookie. He jumped to the NFL in 1982, signing a five-year, $3.5 million contract with the Browns, at the time the most ever for a Cleveland player.

Lawrence Phillips

The sixth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft, the troubled running back out of Nebraska had abbreviated stints with the St. Louis Rams, Miami Dolphins, Barcelona Dragons and San Francisco 49ers before heading to the CFL, where he won the Grey Cup with Montreal in 2002.

Jeff Garcia

He began his career in 1997 as a backup to Doug Flutie in Calgary but led the Stampeders to the CFL championship the following season before moving on to the San Francisco 49ers, whom he led to the playoffs in 2001 and '02.

Johnny Rodgers

The 1972 Heisman Trophy winner was taken in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft by San Diego but signed instead with the Montreal Alouettes, where he was All-Pro and MVP. He finally joined the Chargers in 1977 but played in only 17 games over two injury-plagued seasons and gained only 49 yards rushing, 234 yards receiving and 599 return yards.

Doug Flutie

An incredible scrambling and passing machine in the CFL, where he won six Most Outstanding Player awards, Flutie also played in the NFL with the Bills, Bears, Chargers and Patriots. He ended his 21 years in pro football when he announced his retirement this month.

Joe Kapp

Before he earned acclaim as the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback, Kapp was a star in the CFL, leading the British Columbia Lions to the Grey Cup in 1963 and '64.

Warren Moon

The only player to be enshrined in both the CFL and Pro Football Hall of Fames, Moon threw for 21,288 yards and 144 touchdowns in Canada and 49,325 yards and 291 touchdowns in the NFL.

Joe Horn

After leading the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL in receptions and receiving yards in 1995, Horn was taken in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He broke out after signing as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2000.

Andre Rison

A five-time Pro Bowl receiver who started in Atlanta and won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996, Rison also won a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2004

Notable NFL/CFL Crossovers