Jim Corrigall, Hall of Fame Argonauts defensive lineman, dies at 80

Jim Corrigall, the standout Canadian defensive lineman who turned down the NFL to build a Hall of Fame career with the Toronto Argonauts, has died at 80. Kent State University announced his passing Wednesday.

Corrigall was born in Barrie and attended high school in North Bay before playing college football at Kent State, where he was named the team's most valuable sophomore, top defensive lineman and most inspirational player. Upon graduation, his No. 79 jersey was retired—he became one of only five Kent State players to receive that honour. He was also the first Kent State player selected to the first team All-Mid-American Conference three consecutive years.

The six-foot-three, 253-pound lineman caught the eye of the St. Louis Cardinals, who made him their second-round pick (No. 33 overall) in the 1970 NFL draft. Instead, Corrigall chose to play for the Toronto Argonauts, who held his territorial rights. "I thought that they had a better opportunity to win at that particular time and they offered me a two-year contract," he said years later. "I liked the idea of a short-term contract."

Corrigall spent his entire 12-year CFL career with Toronto, appearing in 148 regular-season games and five playoff contests. He was the East Division's top rookie in 1970 and a conference all-star eight times. He earned four All-Canadian selections and was named the CFL's top defensive player in 1975, as well as Toronto's outstanding player. He finished his tenure as a player-coach in his final two seasons.

Corrigall appeared in one Grey Cup—the 1971 game in which the Calgary Stampeders defeated Toronto 14-11 at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and named to the All-Time Argos list in 1997.

In 2019, Corrigall and his daughter told the Akron Beacon Journal he likely suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an incurable degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. Kent State head coach Mark Carney called him "one of just five players to have his number retired here" and said "your legacy will not soon be forgotten."