CFL Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pinball

Before becoming a football star, Mike Pinball Clemons was accepted to Harvard University for his academic achievements but chose to attend the College of William & Mary (1983-1986) on a football scholarship, where he earned a degree in economics. He played for the Toronto Argonauts from 1989 to 2000.

He retired as the CFL's all-time leader in combined yards with 25,438 career yards accumulated through rushing, receiving, punt returns, and kickoff returns. He is also the first professional football player known to have exceeded 5,000 career yards in four separate categories: rushing, receiving, kickoff returns, and punt returns.

Answer: King Kong

Before becoming a CFL legend, Angelo Mosca (1937-2021) attended the University of Notre Dame on a scholarship and was drafted by the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, but chose to pursue his career in Canada (CFL from 1958 to 1972) and later became a successful professional wrestler known as "King Kong Mosca" and "The Mighty Hercules." Mosca was one of the CFL's toughest defensive players, winning five Grey Cups and earning induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Answer: Steamer

Before playing in the CFL, Milt Stegall was an accomplished track athlete whose speed earned him a place among the fastest sprinters in the history of Miami University (in both the 100m and 200m events). Stegall spent his entire CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1995-2008), becoming one of the most recognizable and respected players in franchise history.

His 2002 season is widely regarded as one of the greatest individual offensive seasons in CFL history, earning him the league's Most Outstanding Player Award.

Answer: Gizmo

Henry "Gizmo" Williams overcame extraordinary childhood adversity, losing both of his parents at a young age and later sharing his story as a motivational speaker known for resilience and perseverance. His nickname "Gizmo" was given to him by future Hall of Famer Reggie White, who felt the elusive playmaker could do just about everything on the field. Widely regarded as the greatest return specialist in CFL history, Williams became famous with the Edmonton Eskimos (1986-2000) for his electrifying returns and his trademark backflip celebrations after touchdowns.

He own two Grey Cups, 1987 and 1993.

Answer: Rocket

Raghib "Rocket" Ismail earned his famous nickname from a track coach who remarked that he exploded out of the starting blocks "like a rocket" -- a description that perfectly matched his world-class speed. Known simply as "Rocket" throughout his career, Ismail became one of the most electrifying players ever to play in the CFL, helping the Toronto Argonauts win the 1991 Grey Cup while earning the game's Most Valuable Player award. One of the most memorable plays in CFL history came when Ismail caught a 87-yard touchdown pass in the 1991 Grey Cup, a play that helped cement his status as a Canadian football superstar.

Answer: The Little General

Ron Lancaster began his CFL career with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1960, where he shared quarterback duties with Russ Jackson before being traded west to Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1963. He eventually became one of the league's most celebrated players. Known as the "Little General" for his analytical mind and on-field leadership, Lancaster guided the Saskatchewan Roughriders to their first-ever Grey Cup championship in 1966.

After his playing career ended in 2006, he also found success as a coach, leading both the Edmonton Eskimos and Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Grey Cup victories and cementing his reputation as one of the CFL's greatest ambassadors.

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Answer: Sackmaster

Grover Covington did not begin playing football until his junior year of high school, yet he developed quickly enough to earn a university scholarship and eventually become one of the most dominant defensive players in Canadian football history. Throughout his 11 seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1981-1991), Covington was known not only for his fierce pass rush but also for his commitment to the community, becoming the first recipient of the team's Charlotte Simmons Humanitarian Award.

His signature achievement came in the 1986 Grey Cup, where he was named Outstanding Defensive Player as Hamilton captured the championship.

Answer: The Rock

Dwayne Johnson, long before he became "The Rock," arrived in Calgary in 1995 chasing a football dream and left with just seven dollars in his pocket after being cut by the Calgary Stampeders after two months. Fortunately for Hollywood, getting released from the CFL turned out to be one of the best things that never happened to him, a lesson Johnson has often said helped shape his future. So while most former CFL players dream of becoming movie stars, Johnson may be the only one who turned a two-month stint on a practice roster into a wrestling empire, blockbuster films, and worldwide fame.

Answer: Swervin' Mervin

Mervyn Fernandez earned the nickname "Swervin' Mervyn" from his high school quarterback, who was impressed by the way he weaved and glided past defenders, a nickname that followed him throughout his career. With the BC Lions (1982-1986), Fernandez became one of the CFL's most exciting deep-threat receivers and was the first player in franchise history to win the league's Most Outstanding Player Award.

He helped lead the Lions to Grey Cup championships in 1985 and 1994 and was later named to the club's All-Time Dream Team.

Answer: Crazy Legs

Ulysses Curtis (1926-2013) was nicknamed "Crazy Legs" for his quick, zigzag running style that left defenders scrambling. In 1970, he organized a charity sports event in Toronto to raise funds for local youth programs, showing his commitment to community building long after his playing days.

He played in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts from 1950 to 1954, winning two Grey Cups during his career (1950 and 1952) and, as one of the team's first Black players, he helped pave the way for greater inclusion of Black athletes in the league.