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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Russ Jackson

Russel Stanley Jackson was born on the 28th of July 1936 in Hamilton Ontario Canada. 

He is a well-recognized football star playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian football league (CFL) for 12 years. 

He has been described as the Canadian-born- quarterback leading the Rough Riders to three Grey Cup victories.

He holds the record for throwing the most passing touchdowns in a Grey Cup game and the highest career passer rating in Grey Cup games.

His expertise and effective strategies in the field have led him to win quite a number of accolades including his inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

Here are 10 interesting facts about him:

1. He played Numerous Sports in College as well as Football

Russel Jackson has shown incredible athletic prowess that to no surprise dabbled in more than one sport in his youth.

When he completed secondary school in Westdale Hamilton, Ontario he joined McMaster University where he played basketball, baseball, hockey, and football as an exceptional college career player.

He later exclusively chose football as an occupation and pursued it.

2. He was the McMaster Nominee for the Rhodes Scholarship

Russ was an exceptionally intelligent individual. Apart from athletics, he was a star pupil at McMaster University pursuing a bachelor of science degree in Mathematics.

He graduated in 1958 and was nominated by the university for the Rhodes scholarship.

The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford that was established in 1902.

Jackson decided not to follow up on the interview for the scholarship choosing to sign with the Ottawa Rough Riders instead who drafted him in the first round of the .

3.  He was the Quarterback of the Rough Riders

Jackson joined the Ottawa Rough Riders first signed as a defensive back before his position was changed to the quarterback for his technique and skill on the field starting in the 1962 season.

He played professionally for 12 years with 1341 completed passes for 23 341 yards, and 184 touchdowns, and rushed for 5045 yards while scoring 55 touchdowns and 330 points.

In 1969 he led the rough riders to his last Grey Cup championship. During this time, he also the Schenley Award as an outstanding player 3 times and was twice chosen as Canada’s male athlete of the year.

He was also a four-time winner of the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award. Jackson is the only one to pass for over 10,000 yards in the CFL among the few Canadian-born quarterbacks.

4 He was a Teacher

From the period of 1959 to 1961 Russel taught teaching for Mathematics with his Bachelors of Science degree after retiring from football.

He quickly rose ranks due to his prowess and became the head of Mathematics at Rideau High School in  from 1961 to 1966.

He later left the school and joined the Canterbury High School in Ottawa as the principal from 1973 to 1975.

He also served as a vice-principal and principal at secondary schools in Ottawa and Mississauga.  

Russel was also the principal at Brampton Centennial Secondary School, John Fraser, and T.L. Kennedy secondary schools.

5. He was a Broadcast Commentator

Jackson was a color commentator who is often a former athlete or coach of the sport.

The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics and strategy or injury reports on the teams and athletes, and occasionally offers anecdotes or light humor to liven the crowd.

Jackson commentated on the  CFL on CBC broadcasts from 1971to 1973 and again from 1977 to 1980.

From 1996 to 2001 he broadcasted the  CHML-AM’s coverage of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

6. He was a Football Coach

In 1975 Jackson briefly left teaching to coach the Toronto Argonauts. He spent two years as head coach compiling a 12-18-2 regular-season record in two seasons.

Sadly he did not reach the playoffs in any of the seasons and was replaced by Leo Cahill, in his second tenure as the Argos’ head coach.

This happened before the 1977 Canadian Football League season when the team qualified for the playoffs.

7.  An award was created in his Honor

In 1986 Russel Jackson was honored by the establishment of an award in his honor called The U Sports Russ Jackson Award.

The award is handed out annually to the university football of any player who best exhibits athletic ability, academic achievement, and faithful citizenship.

Russel Jackson is one of the few football players to have an award dedicated to their athletic expertise. The award is set to inspire the youth and recognize talent.

8. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada

The prestigious Order of Canada is the second-highest honor for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.

It is how Canada honors people who make extraordinary contributions to the nation.

It was established in 1967 to award outstanding contributions to their field of endeavor. Russel has been awarded this honor for his incredible athletic skill that empowers other college athletes.

9. He has been added to Canada’s Walk of Fame

The Canadian walk of fame acknowledges the achievements and accomplishments of Canadians who have excelled in their respective fields.

Resembling the Hollywood walk of fame it comprises a series of maple leaf-like stars embedded in 13 designated blocks worth of sidewalks in Toronto in front of Roy Thomson Hall, The Princess of Wales Theatre, and The Royal Alexandra Theatre on King Street as well as Simcoe Street.

The walk of fame inducts Canadian activists, scientists, philanthropists, athletes, coaches, actors, directors, writers, producers, musicians, comedians, cartoonists, and models among others. It is an Esteemed honor that Russel Jackson won in 2012.

10. He is the Highest-ranked Canadian-born Football Player

In 2006, Jackson was voted one of the CFL’s Top 50 players in the country.  Russel has gained great fame and popularity because of this. In addition, he is ranked the eighth spot in the league’s modern era by a Canadian sports network.

This has recorded Russel Jackson in the History books as one of the greatest Canadian quarterbacks in history.