Chuck Ealey

While Warren Moon is often credited with demonstrating that an African American can play QB and excel at the position in the pros, he was not the first black QB in the CFL.  Before there was Moon, there was Conredge Holloway in 1975 and before Holloway there was Chuck Ealey in 1972.  Ealey burst into the CFL in 1972 with Hamilton and was named the Outstanding Rookie in the CFL.  Ealey completed 58.4% of his passes for 2573 yards and 22 toudhdowns in that rookie season as he was named the East All-Star QB. Ealey also guided the Tiger-Cats to a Grey Cup win over Saskatchewan in his rookie season.  Ealey put up similar stats in 1973, completing 58.6% of his passes for 2312 yards.  Ealey ws a "protyptical" CFL QB, dangerous running the ball as well as passing, picking up 515 yards in his rookie season and 687 yards in his second year.  In 1974, however, things soured for Ealy as he got off toa slow start in Hamilton and with 8 interceptions to only 2TD passes, Ealey was traded West to the Blue Bombers in exchange for QB Don Jonas.  Ealey finsished the 74 season with Winnpeg and was with them for most of 1975, but was displaced by an up and coming QB named Dieter Brock and he was dealt to Toronto.  Ealey played three more seasons in Toronto from 1976 to 1978, putting up good numbers, though not as good as his first two seasons n the CFL.

Wikipedia Article on Chuck Ealey

Games Played and Passing
Year Team GP PA PC % Yds TD Int Sacked Yds
1972 HAM 14 253 148 58.4 2573 22 8 38 351
1973 HAM 14 309 181 58.6 2312 14 14 34 290
1974 WPG 10 147 74 50.3 975 8 6 18 115
1974 HAM 7 130 71 54.6 1012 2 8 19 130
1975 TOR 3 68 35 50.7 515 2 2 15 101
1975 WPG 13 128 67 52.3 1028 6 4 22 145
1976 TOR 16 245 132 53.8 1846 12 10 41 295
1977 TOR 16 240 135 56.2 1653 8 11

1978 TOR 12 206 112 54.3 1420 8 6 20 146
Rushing
Year Team TC Yds Avg TD Long
1972 HAM 87 515 5.9 4 47
1973 HAM 129 687 5.3 4 69
1974 WPG 55 300 5.5 1 25
1974 HAM 58 238 4.1 1 37
1975 TOR 31 161 5.2 1 25
1975 WPG 68 434 6.4 1 34
1976 TOR 85 613 7.2 2 86
1977 TOR 99 663 6.7 4 30
1978 TOR 52 373 7.2 1 37
Fumble Recoveries
Year Team F FL OFR
1972 HAM 6 2 1
1973 HAM 1 1 0
1974 WPG 2 1 0
1974 HAM 2 0 0
1975 TOR 1 1 1
1975 WPG 1 1 1
1976 TOR 3 2 1
1977 TOR 6 5 0
1978 TOR 2 1 1