Article

Sam Etcheverry

Published Online January 9, 2008

Last Edited March 30, 2015

Sam Etcheverry, football player (born 20 May 1930 in Carlsbad, New Mexico; died 29 August 2009 in Montréal, QC). Etcheverry turned professional with the Montreal Alouettes in 1952, and later earned his nickname of "The Rifle" as a quarterback.

Sam Etcheverry, football player (born 20 May 1930 in Carlsbad, New Mexico; died 29 August 2009 in Montréal, QC). Etcheverry turned professional with the Montreal Alouettes in 1952, and later earned his nickname of "The Rifle" as a quarterback. His Canadian Football League (CFL) statistics show 1,630 completions from 2,829 passes for 25,582 yards, including 163 interceptions and 174 touchdowns. In 1956, he obtained the CFL single-season passing mark of 4,723 yards, with a completion total of 276 in 446 attempts. In the same year, he also obtained the record for the longest completed pass, 109 yards to Hal Patterson against Hamilton at Montréal. Etcheverry played in three Grey Cup finals, and coached the Alouettes to their 1970 Grey Cup win. He won several awards, including Schenley Player of the Year in 1954 and induction to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

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