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| No. 10, 14 | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Quarterback •defensive back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1939-08-02)August 2, 1939 Paris, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2018(2018-01-20) (aged 78) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Tulsa |
| Career history | |
| 1961–1972 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 1973–1975 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1975 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Awards and highlights | |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1989) | |
Jerry Keeling (August 2, 1939 – January 20, 2018) was an American professionalfootballquarterback anddefensive back in theCanadian Football League (CFL), playing fifteen seasons from 1961 to 1975 for theCalgary Stampeders,Ottawa Rough Riders, andHamilton Tiger-Cats. He became a member of theCanadian Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
TheParis, Texas-bornEnid, Oklahoma-reared Keeling was a member of the Stampeders from 1961 to 1972, playing defensive back and quarterback positions. It was only in1969 that Keeling became the starting quarterback. Keeling was the winning quarterback in the1970 Western Conference finals in a best of 3 series against theSaskatchewan Roughriders, the final game in brutally cold weather (see video clip below) won by Calgary by a score of 15–14, one of the coldest football games ever.[citation needed]
But the team lost the58th Grey Cup game played on a very muddy field to theMontreal Alouettes. However, after beating Saskatchewan again in the Western Conference finals in1971, he beat theToronto Argonauts during the rainy59th Grey Cup game, his first championship victory.[citation needed]
Keeling became an Ottawa Rough Rider from 1973 to 1975. In1973, he was their starting quarterback and led his team to the61st Grey Cup. However, he was replaced byRick Cassata in the title game because of an injury.[1] Ottawa won that game, Keeling's second and last Grey Cup win.[citation needed]
He ended his career in1975 as the starting quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which finished 5–10–1 yet made the playoffs, though defeated on the first round by the Alouettes.[citation needed]
Keeling was an assistant coach for the Stampeders from 1982 to 1983.
Keeling died on Saturday, January 20, 2018. At the time of his death he was living in Oklahoma with his wife Vella.[2][3]