Ted Gerela was the first of the specialist kickers in the CFL, starting his career with BC in 1967 and preceding other first generation kickers such as Gerry Organ and Dave Cutler who came on the scene in the early 1970s.  In some ways, Gerela was transitional from the era when a regular positional player did the kicking and the era of kickers who do nothing but kick.  Gerela did backup at runnig back (a career high of 9 carries in his rookie year), filled in on kickoff returns and even played a bit of defense (two interceptions in 1969), but his primary job was as a placekicker.  Gerela only played seven season (1967-1973), so he didn't really get the benefit of the improved equipment and attention to the kicking game that others who came after him got, but he did pave the way for other specialist kickers.  Gerela's percentage success rate on fieldgoals was not high by today's standards (his career high is only 57.6% in his second last year in 1972), but he is remembered for the sheer number of fieldgoals he kicked.  It was perhaps his second year though in 1968 when he hit on 30 field goals and won the West scoring title that marked the modern era of placekicking in the CFL.  At the time, 30 fieldgoals was not only a CFL record, but a professional record.  Gerela also had a very strong leg, kicking fieldgoals of over 50 yards in each of his first five seasons, with a career longest of 53 in 1969.  He also had a kickoff average of 60 yards or higher, three times in his career.  Unfortunately for Gerela, the idea of awarding an All-Star for kickers would not start until 1977, or he would likely have earned at least one for his 1968 season.  Ted has two brothers who were also placekickers.  Roy Gereka played his entiere career in the NFL and Metro Gerela who had a short stint with the Montreal Alouettes in 1968.

Another article on Ted (and Roy) Gerela