Willie Pless
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| Willie Pless | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | February 21, 1964 |
| Place of birth: | Anniston, Alabama |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | LB |
| College: | University of Kansas |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1986-1989 1990 1991-1998 1999 |
Toronto Argonauts British Columbia Lions Edmonton Eskimos Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| CFL All-Star: | 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Awards: |
|
| Honors: | Edmonton Eskimos Wall of Honour |
| Canadian Football Hall of Fame | |
Willie Pless (born February 21, 1964) was a star football linebacker in the Canadian Football League.
Pless played his college football at the University of Kansas. As a Jayhawk starter for only three years (1983 to 1985) he amassed an amazing 633 tackles. This is not recognized as a record, as the NCAA officially counted tackles starting in 2000, but the present leader (Rod Davis) has only 360. Being 5 feet 10 inches tall, 210 pounds, Pless was not drafted by the NFL. He would later (in 1990) try out for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, but otherwise, his entire 14 year, 250 game, career was played in Canada.
Willie Pless may be the best defensive player ever to play in the CFL. He played for 4 teams: Toronto Argonauts for 4 years (1986 to 1989), B.C. Lions for 1990, Edmonton Eskimos for (1991 to 1998) and finally the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1999). He holds the league record for most tackles (1,241). He also had 84 quarterback sacks, 39 interceptions, 39 fumble recoveries, played in 18 playoff games and three Grey Cups, winning one championship (the 81st Grey Cup game). He won the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award five times and was an all star 11 times.
HONOURS AND AWARDS:
- CFL outstanding defensive player: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- West Division outstanding defensive player: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- East Division outstanding rookie: 1986
- CFL All-Star: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
- East Division All-Star: 1986, 1988
- West Division All-Star: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- North Division All-Star: 1995
- B.C. Lions outstanding player: 1990
- Edmonton Eskimos outstanding player: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
- Toronto Argonauts outstanding defensive player: 1986, 1988
- B.C. Lions outstanding defensive player: 1990
- Edmonton Eskimos outstanding defensive player: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Saskatchewan Roughriders outstanding defensive player: 1999
- Toronto Argonauts outstanding rookie: 1986
- Grey Cup participation: 1987, 1993, 1996
- Grey Cup victories: 1993
He is a member of the University of Kansas Sports Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In November, 2006, Willie Pless was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#16) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network/TSN.
Pless has settled in Edmonton and runs a personal trainer business. He is a well respected businessman, fine gentleman and a scholar. Pless is still 5'10", 210lbs with a totally shiny bald melon.
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