Joe Vijuk was born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, but grew up in Windsor, Ontario after his family immigrated to Canada. Vijuk went on to play college football at Hillsdale College in Michigan and then played three seasons in the CFL as a defensive end. Vijuk played one season with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1970 and two years with the Tornto Argonauts in 1971 and 1972.
While many of today's defensive stats such as tackles and quarterback sacks were not kept during the years Vijuk played, he did record 5 fumble recoveries in his short career, including one that he returned 36 yards for a touchdown in 1970 with Ottawa. Vijuk made it the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 1971, but unfortunately for him and the double blue, that was the year of the now infamous Leon MCQuay fumble and Toronto lost to Calgary 14-11.
Vijuk obtained a degree in Business Administration from Hillsdaleand following his football playing days has a long and successful career running his family business.
Joe Vijuk passed away on July 2, 2014.
| Year | Team | GP | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long | FR | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | OTT | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 18.5 | 1 | 36 | |
| 1971 | TOR | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1972 | TOR | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
