Former Tiger-Cats player, general manager Joe Zuger dead at 84 (2024)

Joe Zuger, a former player and general manager for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who threw a record eight touchdown passes in his CFL debut, had died. He was 84.

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The team announced his death in a news release Monday night.

Zuger, from Homestead, Pa., served as a quarterback, defensive back and punter with the Tiger-Cats from 1962 until 1971. Ths six-foot-two, 212-pound Zuger appeared in five Grey Cup games, winning in 1963, ’65 and ’67.

He was named the most valuable player of the 1967 contest and later won another Grey Cup as the Ticats’ general manager.

Zuger played his college football at Arizona State University, where he excelled on offence, defence and as a punter.

He compiled a 24-7 record as a three-year starter while also serving as a defensive back and punter. As a senior in 1961, Zuger completed 67-of-133 passes (50.4 per cent) for 879 yards and eight TDs while also registering 10 interceptions and a 42.1-yard punting average.

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Zuger was later inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame.

The Detroit Lions selected Zuger in the 18th round, No. 248 overall, in the 1961 NFL draft but he elected to sign with Hamilton. With quarterback Bernie Faloney injured during the ’62 season, then rookie Zuger had a CFL starting debut to remember.

He threw eight TD strikes in a 67-21 win over Saskatchewan on Oct. 15. Zuger finished that season passing for 1,070 yards with 15 TDs while also recording four interceptions and a 43.3-yard punting average.

“I thought it was a fluke,” Zuger said of his historic accomplishment. “I thought, ’No way, this is not going to occur on a weekly basis.’ ”

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With Faloney back in ’63, Zuger became a full-time defensive back, registering five interceptions. After Hamilton traded Faloney to Montreal in ’65, Zuger shared quarterback duties with Frank Cosentino before becoming the starter in ’67.

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In first full season under centre, Zuger led Hamilton past Saskatchewan 24-1 in the Grey Cup game. Zuger had a three-yard TD run, a 72-yard scoring strike to Ted Watkins and three punt singles to claim MVP honours.

Zuger enjoyed his best season as a CFL quarterback in ’67, registering career highs in pass attempts (320), completions (163) and yards (2,771) although he did throw more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (11).

He played his final CFL game Nov. 14, 1971, a 23-8 road loss to archrival Toronto. In that contest, Zuger suffered a separated shoulder and broken collarbone after being hit by Argos defensive linemen Jim Stillwagon and Jim Corrigall.

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Zuger ultimately decided to retire and in ’72, rookie Chuck Ealey led Hamilton to a 13-10 Grey Cup win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ivor Wynne Stadium.

Zuger hung up his cleats having completed 814-of-1,618 passes for 12,676 yards with 76 TDs and 95 interceptions. He also ran for 885 yards on 283 carries (3.1-yard average) with 12 touchdowns and recorded nine interceptions.

He also left the CFL as one of its’ best punters ever, sporting a 45.5-yard career average. Three times he averaged 48-plus yards in a season and punts over 80 yards four times, including an 85-yard boot in 1968.

Zuger returned to Hamilton as its player-personnel director in 1980 before being promoted to general manager in ’81 after Ralph Sazio left to join the Argos. The Ticats made four Grey Cup appearances during Zuger’s tenure, beating Edmonton 39-15 in the ’86 game.

In 1989, Saskatchewan earned a thrilling 43-40 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton at Rogers Centre, a game many consider to be the best CFL championship contest ever. Zuger retired as Ticats GM following the ’92 season.

Zuger was inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour in 2007.

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