Former Canadian Football League star Jim Corrigall of Barrie, Ontario passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 according to the Canadian Press. Corrigall played 12 seasons with the Toronto Argonauts from 1970 to 1981.
Corrigall played 146 Canadian Football League games. He had one interception for five yards, 14 fumble recoveries for 66 yards, and one touchdown from a fumble recovery.
A defensive end, Corrigan was a four-time CFL All-Star. He was honoured in 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1977. In 1975, Corrigan was the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player. He was the first Canadian to ever win the award.
Corrigall played his college football at Kent State University in Ohio. His number 79 was retired by Kent State.
At the 1970 National Football League Draft, Corrigall was drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the first Canadian taken in the 1970 NFL Draft. It was a draft best remembered for the Pittsburgh Steelers taking future Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw first overall.
After his playing career, Corrigall went on to coach Kent State University. He was there for four seasons from 1994 to 1997. After his time at Kent State, Corrigall was a high school football coach and led Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio to an undefeated season in 2012. In 1990, Corrigall was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario.
