Already a well known star baseball player, Pete Karpuk played junior football in Toronto and started his pro football career in 1947 with the Ottawa Trojans of the ORFU (Ontario Rugy Football Union). Karpuk played one season with the Trojans before moving on to the Big Four / IRFU and he Ottawa Rough Riders for six seasons (1948-1953), playing both offensive and defensive back. Karpuk went to the Grey Cup in his first season with the Rough Riders in 1948, but hit was not a good experience as he was part of one of the more famous miscues in Grey Cup History. Leading the Stampeders in the fourth quarter, quarterback Bob Paffrath tossed a lateral to Karpuk who fumbled it. An official sounded a horn which in those days meant someting was wrong, but to play on (as opposed to a whistle when the play stopped). Karpuk and the other Rough Riders hesitated to cover the ball and Woody Strode of the Stampeders picked it up and lateraled it to Jim Mitchener who took it to the Ottawa 20 yard line to set up the winning touchdown by Pete Thodos. Karpuk made it back to the Grey Cup again in 1951 with Ottawa and this time it was a much better outcome, both for Karpuk personally and for the team. The Riders won the 1951 Grey Cup 21-14 over Saskatchewan and it was Karpuk who scored the winning touchdown on a 40 yard pass. Karpuk was "fired" but not released by the Riders in October, 1953 over a dispute with Ottawa coach Clem Crowe. The dispute with the club continued on into 1954 with Karpuk unable to play since he had not gotten an official release from the Rough Riders. Karpuk took the Riders and the IRFU to court, but the problem was settled out of court when he was given his release by the team. Karpuk initially signed with Toronto after his release by Ottawa, but was promptly traded to Hamilton and spent the 1954 season with the Tiger-Cats. Hamilton released Karpuk just prior to the start of the 1955 season and Karpuk returned to Ottawa for 1955. Shortly after resigning with Ottawa again for the 1956 season, Karpuk was released in July for a curfew violation by Rider coach Frank Clair. The Montreal Alouettes signed Karpuk within a week of his release and he completed his career with the Als, playing two seasons in 1956 and 1957. Karpuk was in training camp with the Toronto Argos in 1958, but was released before the season started. Individual stats are available for only four of the eleven years that Karpuk played, so his official stats are very incomplete. Karpuk did score 12 career touchdowns and is officially credited with 8 career interceptions in the four years where those stats were kept including 4 interceptions in 1954, one of which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown. Karpuk was also used extensively returning punts. Pete Karpuk was also famous for the "Karpuk Play" in 1951 when he came off the bench to chase down an Argo player who was running for a touchdown. Pete Karpuk passed away after a massive heart attack on March 4,1985.

Karpuk Joins Trojans - September 30, 1947

Karpuk Joining Riders When Baseball Closes - September 9, 1948

Lynch and Karpuk Score Big Ones - September 27, 1948

Karpuk praised for tackling and running - October 11, 1948

Summary of the 1948 Grey Cup Game - Karpuk as goat

Pete Karpuk In Rider Lineup Today - August 26, 1949

Versatile Pete Resumes Diamon Work - August 26, 1949

Pete Karpuk Chosen Baseball MVP - September 9, 1949

Karpuk Comes Off Bench To Chase Argo - November 5, 1951

Summary of the 1951 Grey Cup - Karpuk as hero

Karpuk In Contract Dispute With Ottawa - July 24, 1954

Argos Sign Karpuk After Release By Ottawa - August 19, 1954

Karpuk Returns To Ottawa - September 2, 1955

Karpuk Released By Ottawa For Curfew Violation - July 16, 1956

Karpuk Signs With Alouettes - July 20, 1956

Rules Never Bothered Pete - July 24, 1956

Karpuk In Team Picture of 1956 Montreal Als - November 20, 1956

Karpuk released by Argos - July 28, 1958

Karpuk Dies From Massive Heart Attack - March 7, 1985

There were no official stats other than scoring kept in the East until 1954. Official games played stats were not kept in the East until 1960 other t han for players who scored points. The numbers for 1956 and 1957 come from the 2006 Montreal Media Guide and are unofficial.