Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson will never be remembered as a great physical speciman, but he was one of the most successful QBs in the history of the CFL.  What Wilkinson might have lacked in sheer physical talent, he made up for with leadership, intelligence and clutch play.  He was never more dangerous than with the game on the line and time running out.

Wilkinson starred at Wyoming and came North to the CFL in 1966.  The CFL in question though was not the Canadian Football League, but the Continental Football League where Wilkinson played for the Toronto Rifles.  In 1967, Wilkinson moved over to join the Toronto Argonauts where he would play four seasons (1967-70). He saw limited action in his first two years, but Wilkinson broke out in 1969 with 2331 yards and a 56.4% completion percentage in 9 games.  After another year in Toronto, Wilkinson was traded to BC in 1971 as the Argnonauts made room for new quarterbacks Joe Theisman and Greg Barton. Wilkinson played just one game with the Lions in 1971 and was released prior to the start of the 1972 season.

It might have looked like it was the end of Wilkinson's football career, but it was really just getting started on the best part.    Wilkinson signed with Edmonton where he enjoyed tremendous success, playing in 8 Grey Cup games, and winning 5 of them. After losing to Ottawa in 1973 and Montreal in 1974, Wilkinson and Edmonton won the Grey Cup in 1975 ove rthe Alouettes, who they would meet with great regularity in the final.  There was another loss to Montreal in 1977, but then Edmonton went on to win five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982, Wilkinson winning four of them, and retiring after the 1981 season.  Wilkinson often shared the quarterbacking duties while with the Eskimos due to injuries he sustained and the fact that Edmonton often had two talented quarterbacks.  Early on it was with Bruce Lemmerman and then later it was Warren Moon whom Wilkinson helped to groom for his own HOF career.

Wilkinson won three West and three CFL All-Stars in 1974, 1978 and 1979. Wilkinson was named the Outstanding Player in the CFL in 1974 and was the runner-up in 1978. Tom Wilkinson was named to the Edmonton Eskimo Wall of Fame and in 1987 was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame..

Tom Wilkinson in Wikipedia

Tom Wilkinson on the Edmonton Wall of Fame

Tom Wilkinson on cfl.ca

Wilkinson in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Wilkinson On Targer As Toronto Wins Again - June 25, 1970

Argos Deal Off Another Pivot - May 11, 1971

Wilkinson Released By Lions - July 15, 1972

Wilkinson Drives Eskimos Into Lead - September 9, 1972

Wilkinson Has Axe to Grind - November 16, 1973

Wilkinson Named Top Player In the West - November 13, 1974

Records Go to Ron, but Wilkie Still Top Passer - December 22, 1975

Wilkinson, Wade Set For Quarterback Duel - September 22, 1978

Quite a Comberback - November 27, 1978

Wilkinson's Lonjevity a Surprise Even to Him - November 22, 1979

Wilkinson Repeats as All-Star - January 16, 1980

Tom "Blanda" Wilkinson Not Ready to Quit - November 21, 1981

 

Games Played and Passing
Year Team GP PA PC % Yds TD Int Sacked Yds
1967 TOR 2 15 4 26.7 23 0 2 2 22
1968 TOR 5 5 4 80 33 0 0 1 12
1969 TOR 9 234 132 56.4 2331 18 19 19 169
1970 TOR 14 137 80 58.4 1272 6 9 18 165
1971 BC 1 19 11 57.8 236 1 0 2 18
1972 EDM 16 268 177 66 2475 17 16 22 228
1973 EDM 16 173 103 59.5 1159 10 7 2 24
1974 EDM 16 262 173 66 2169 13 7 11 106
1975 EDM 16 305 194 63.6 2859 19 12 10 114
1976 EDM 16 184 109 59.2 1243 4 10 11 99
1977 EDM 16 284 158 59.8 1900 14 11

1978 EDM 16 292 177 60.6 2394 20 9 22 189
1979 EDM 16 205 120 58.2 2132 17 11 18 128
1980 EDM 16 147 83 56.5 1060 7 9 23 156
1981 EDM 16 151 88 58.2 1293 8 4 12 92
Rushing
Year Team TC Yds Avg TD Long
1967 TOR 1 8 8 0 8
1968 TOR 1 6 6 0 6
1969 TOR 42 257 6.1 3 35
1970 TOR 42 180 4.3 1 20
1971 BC 3 10 3.3 0 9
1972 EDM 48 260 5.4 0 23
1973 EDM 25 78 3.1 0 20
1974 EDM 38 61 1.6 1 10
1975 EDM 33 80 2.4 1 22
1976 EDM 11 24 2.2 0 15
1977 EDM 25 40 1.6 0 11
1978 EDM 23 42 1.8 0 16
1979 EDM 10 28 2.8 0 13
1980 EDM 5 12 2.4 0 6
1981 EDM 13 17 1.3 1 20
Fumbles
Year Team F FL OFR
1967 TOR 0 0 0
1968 TOR 0 0 0
1969 TOR 4 4 0
1970 TOR 1 0 0
1971 BC 1 1 0
1972 EDM 2 1 1
1973 EDM 0 0 0
1974 EDM 0 0 0
1975 EDM 2 2 0
1976 EDM 4 3 0
1977 EDM 2 2 1
1978 EDM 2 2 0
1979 EDM 1 1 0
1980 EDM 1 0 1
1981 EDM 2 2 0

 

 

 

Tom Wilkinson

1970 OPC Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson

1971 OPC Tom Wilkinson