Dan Kearns (November 23, 1956 – February 28, 2022) was a Canadian football defensive lineman who played ten seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the second round of the 1980 CFL Draft.[1] He played CIS football at Simon Fraser University and attended Wexford High school in Scarborough, Ontario. Dan's twin brother Steve also played in the CFL.[2] Kearns died of pancreatic cancer in 2022.[3][4]

Dan Kearns
No. 95
Born:(1956-11-23)November 23, 1956
São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Died:February 28, 2022(2022-02-28) (aged 65)
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)DL
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight240 lb (110 kg)
UniversitySimon Fraser
High schoolScarborough (ON) Wexford
CFL Draft1980, Round: 2, Pick: 18
Drafted byEdmonton Eskimos
Career history
As player
19801988Edmonton Eskimos
1989Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Career highlights and awards

Early years edit

Kearns was born in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil and played soccer as a youth. His family moved back to Canada so Dan and his brother Steve could attend Wexford High school. They first played Canadian football in Grade 11.[2]

College career edit

Kearns played CIS football for the Simon Fraser Clan.[2]

Professional career edit

Edmonton Eskimos edit

Kearns was selected by the Edmonton Eskimos with the 18th pick in the 1980 CFL Draft. He played for the Eskimos from 1980 to 1988, winning the Grey Cup four times.[5]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers edit

Kearns played in four games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1989.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Draft Tracker". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c O'Connor, Joe (October 25, 2005). "First and God". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  3. ^ "Dan Kearns, 4-time Grey Cup champion with Edmonton, dead at 65 - Edmonton | Globalnews.ca".
  4. ^ Edmonton Elks on Twitter
  5. ^ a b "Dan Kearns". justsportsstats.com. Retrieved May 2, 2015.

External links edit