Sam Etcheverry

Sam "The Rifle" Etcheverry played his entire nine year CFL career with Montreal from 1952 to 1960. Etcheverry put up prettty much modern passing numbers in an era dominated by the run. Etcheverry threw for over 3000 yards in every season (no stats were kept in 1952 and 1953) and had a career high 4723 yards in 1956. Etcheverry was a six time East All-Star, winning recognition in 1953-1957 inclusively and 1960 (there were no CFL All-Stars until 1962). Etcheverry was nominated five times by the Alouettes for the Outstanding Player in the CFL (1954, 1955, 1958, 1959 and 1960). Etcheverry and the Als went to the Grey Cup three times in his stint in Montreal, unfortunately losing all three contests (1954-56) to Jackie Parker and the Edmonton Eskimos. The 1954 loss was one of the most memorable in Grey Cup history as it featured the famous Chuck Hunsinger fumble that was run back by Parker for a touchdown and converted by Bob Dean for the victory. In 1960, Montreal attempted to trade Etcheverry to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for Bernie Faloney, and the courts ruled it was a breach of Etcheverry's contract and made him a free agent. The Rifle headed South to the NFL and completed his career south of the border, playing two years with the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL in 1961 and 1962. Etcheverry would return, however, to the CFL and the Montreal Alouettes. After Etcheverry's departure, the Als fell on hard times nad so it was only fitting that Etcheverry's return helped turn the franchise around again. There had been a short one year return in 1965 as an assistant coach, but in 1970, Sam Berger bought the Montreal Alouettes and made Etcheverry the head coach and former teammate John (Red) O'Quinn the General Manager. With Sonny Wade as the quarterback, the Als and Etcheverry won the Grey Cup in 1970 that had eluded him as a player. Etcheverry stayed on as the head coach for three seasons (1970-72) and was later both GM and President for two years (1982-83). Etcheverry was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1969. On August 29, 2009, Sam Etcheverry lost his battle with cancer and passed away.

NFL Stats for Sam Etcheverry

**Games Played and Passing**
Year	Team	GP	PA	PC	%	Yds	TD	Int	Sacked	Yds
1952	MON
1953	MON
1954	MON		372	206	55.4	3610	25	20
1955	MON		400	227	56.8	3657	30	24
1956	MON		446	276	61.9	4723	32	23
1957	MON		408	215	52.7	3341	14	22
1958	MON		423	257	58.4	3548	18	25
1959	MON		402	231	57.5	3133	10	21	39	285
1960	MON	14	378	229	60.9	3571	24	31	34	281

**Rushing**
Year	Team	TC	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
1952	MON
1953	MON
1954	MON	53	298	5.6	2	23
1955	MON	79	371	4.7	2	24
1956	MON	80	442	5.5	3	19
1957	MON	54	209	3.9	2	15
1958	MON	107	-274		3	15
1959	MON	64	190	3	2	15
1960	MON	63	245	3.9	2	22

**Punting**
Year	Team	P	Yds	Avg	Long	S
1952	MON
1953	MON
1954	MON	3	131	43.7	60	0
1955	MON	19	733	38.7	51	1
1956	MON	48	1968	41	56	3
1957	MON	66	2634	39.9	55	4
1958	MON	145	5668	39.1	80	3
1959	MON	131	4937	37.7	60	6
1960	MON	102	4196	41.1	61	10

**Place Kicking**
Year	Team	ConvA	ConvG	%	Att	Good	FG%	Long	S	MFG	YdsMFG	Avg	PTS
1952	MON
1953	MON
1954	MON	12	11	91.7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21
1955	MON	2	2	100	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13
1956	MON	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21
1957	MON	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	16
1958	MON	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21
1959	MON	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
1960	MON	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	22