Willie Pless

In a fourteen year career from 1986 to 1999, Willie Pless established himself as one of the best linebackers to ever play in the CFL.  Pless is probably best remembered as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos and a worthy successor to other outstanding Edmonton linebackers dating back to the 1970s such as Dan Kepley and Danny Bass. Pless, however, started his career in Toronto in 1986, signing as a free agent with the Argos in May of 1986.  In his rookie season, Pless was both an Eastern and CFL All-Star while garnering the outstanding rookie award for the East.  After his second CFL All-Star recognition in 1988, Pless went south to try his luck with the NFL's New York Giants, and was resigned by Toronto after his release.  After 1989, the Argos traded Pless to BC in a huge trade, both in number of players and in the names involved.  Pless was seent to BC along with DL Jearld Bayliss, QB Rick Johnson, WR Emanual Tobert, LB Tony Visco and DB Todd Wiseman for QB Matt Dunnigan.  After another All Canadian season with BC in 1990, Pless moved on to Edmonton where he was the dominant defensive player in the CFL from 1991 to 1998 Pless was named All-Canadian for all eight years and won five outstanding defensive player awards including four in a row from 1994 to 1997.  Pless became a free agent in February of 1999 and joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders for his final CFL season where he was named a Western All-Star.  The statistics backup Pless's 10 All Canadian All-Star selections and 5 oustanding defensive player awards.  Seven times, Pless recorded 100 or more defensive tackles. He had 84 career sacks, 39 career interceptions and 39 career fumble recoveries.  It was a no brainer when the voters put Willie Pless in the Hall of Fame in 2005.