Bio

Jeff Avery (born March 28, 1953) played as a wide receiver with uOttawa for four seasons (1972-75) on the best ever edition of Gee-Gees football.

His name is etched in the Gee-Gees record books for third most reception yards in a season with 860 yards in 1974 which earned him a place on the All-Canadian team. The following season he kept up his torrid pace and was named an All-Canadian in 1975 for a second time, helping the Gee-Gees win the Vanier Cup and polish off a perfect season.

Avery was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1976 and would help the team win the Grey Cup that same year. He played seven seasons for the Rough Riders (76-82), and was named a CFL East All-Star in 1977 and 1978.  Avery was at the top of his game when he recorded 50 catches for 767 yards in 1978. Avery's career totals in the CFL with Ottawa included 15 touchdowns and 2619 yards in 102 games.

For 15 years he has been President of the CFL Ottawa Alumni Association and was a Founding member of the CFL Alumni Association. He has worked to develop the CFLAA Support Fund which offers financial support to fellow Alumni and families who are experiencing a financial hardship due to a medical condition or the sudden loss of income. He is also the voice of CFL football in Ottawa, having provided the on-air colour commentary for the Rough Riders since 1988, and now the Redblacks.

Avery’s work as a radio colour commentator dates back to 1988 and spans Rough Riders, Renegades, and Redblacks eras across CFRA, Team 1200, and TSN 1200 stations. Throughout that time, Avery has also been called upon for numerous broadcasts of Gee-Gees football games. Avery was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a broadcaster in 2017.