| Date of birth | (1945-01-03)January 3, 1945 (age 80) |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Ottawa,Ontario, Canada |
| Career information | |
| Status | Retired |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | TE |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| US college | University of Michigan |
| High school | Glebe Collegiate Institute |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1968–1969 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1970–1971 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1972–1974 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1975 | Toronto Argonauts |
Thomas Pullen (born January 3, 1945) is a formerAmerican football andCanadian football player. He playedcollege football at theUniversity of Michigan from 1965 to 1967. A native ofOttawa,Ontario, he also played professional football in theCanadian Football League for theOttawa Rough Riders (1968–1969, 1972–1974), theMontreal Alouettes (1970–1971), and theToronto Argonauts (1975).
Pullen was born inOttawa,Ontario, in 1945.[1] He attendedGlebe Collegiate Institute, a high school in Ottawa, where he played football, basketball and ran track and field. He was selected as Glebe's most outstanding football player in 1961, set records in thehigh jump, hurdles and sprints, and led thebasketball team to the Ontario provincial finals. He also played goalie for the Ottawa Montagnards and was also one of the first players in Canadian Little League history to pitch a no-hit shut-out.[2][3]
Pullen enrolled at theUniversity of Michigan in 1965 and playedcollege football for theMichigan Wolverines football team from 1965 to 1967.[4] He was the first Canadian to receive a full football scholarship from the school, and he became the first Canadian to letter with the Michigan football team.[2] He played principally at theend position for the1965 Michigan Wolverines football team.[5] Pullen graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in science and education.[2]
Pullen later played seven seasons in theCanadian Football League with theOttawa Rough Riders (1968–1969, 1972–1974), theMontreal Alouettes (1970–1971), and theToronto Argonauts (1975). He had his best season in 1971 when he caught 34 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns as a member of the Alouettes.[6] He was a member of three consecutiveGrey Cup championship teams (two with Ottawa with 1968 and 1979, and one with Montreal in 1970), and he also a fourth Grey Cup championship with Ottawa in 1973.[7]
After retiring from football, Pullen became a teacher and basketball and track coach at Glebe Collegiate in Ottawa. He also held coaching positions with the Carleton Ravens (three years as receivers coach), Midget Nepean Rams (one year as assistant coach), and Ashbury (one season as the goalie coach). He later became a vice-president of business development for Innovative Financial Group Inc.[2]