Larry Bird (Canadian football)

Larry Bird
No. 42
Born: (1945-10-17) October 17, 1945 (age 79)
Big River, Saskatchewan, Canada
Career information
Position(s)C, G
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight230 lb (100 kg)
CollegeWestern Ontario
Career history
As player
1967
1971–1978		Edmonton Eskimos
Saskatchewan Roughriders

Larry Bird (born October 17, 1945) is a Canadian former professional football player who was an offensive lineman for nine seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), primarily for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, from 1967 through 1978.

Bird was born in Big River, Saskatchewan, and did not know about football until moving to Viking, Alberta, at age 13. He played two years of junior football with the Edmonton Huskies. He joined the University of Alberta's Golden Bears afterwards, earning all-star honors as a guard. Bird was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos, but instead completed his education at the University of Western Ontario.[1] He played two season with their Mustangs football team,[2] and was named their most valuable player in 1969.[1]

Bird signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1970.[1] He was moved to centre in Game 5 of 1971. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 230 pounds (100 kg), he continued to play undersized at the position.[1][3] He was inducted into the Roughriders Plaza of Honor in 2002.[4][5]

  1. ^ a b c d Campbell, Ron (October 6, 1971). "Rider candidate". The Leader-Post. p. 40. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Roghriders sign four Canadian college stars". The Leader-Post. April 24, 1971. p. 20. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hughes, Bob (March 26, 1974). "Riders get dandy in Bisons' Bernard". The Leader-Post. p. 22. Retrieved March 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Riders: Shivers on U.S. shopping trip". The StarPhoenix. August 20, 2002. p. B2. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "JURASIN, BIRD AND BRANDT INDUCTED". Riderville.com. May 4, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2023.