Joe Poplawski
Inducted: 1990
Member of Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Inducted 1998)
Receiver, kicker: 1978-86
CFL All-Star: 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
Division All-Star: 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
Most Outstanding Canadian: 1981, 1986
Most Outstanding Rookie: 1978
Jackie Parker Trophy (Most Outstanding Rookie, West Division): 1978
Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (Most Outstanding Canadian, West Division): 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Canadian: 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
Most Outstanding Rookie Player: 1978
Joe Poplawski – ‘Joe Pop’ to his legions of friends and fans – remains one of the most popular players in Bomber history. Originally a territorial exemption by his hometown Edmonton Eskimos, Poplawski was traded to the Bombers before playing a game in 1978 for all-star receiver Tom Scott.
Poplawski immediately made the trade a win for the Bombers, earning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie award in ’78 and then the league’s top Canadian honours in 1981 and 1986. He was a CFL all-star five times in nine years and, when he retired after the 1986 season at the age of 29, he was 20th on the league’s all-time receiving yardage list. He still ranks third on the Bombers’ all-time list, ranking behind only Milt Stegall and James Murphy.
