Bio

Neil Lumsden (born December 19, 1952, in London, Ontario) was a three-time league Most Valuable Player, four-time All-Canadian, and record-setting running back for the Gee-Gees from 1972-1975. His collegiate success led into a ten-year professional playing career which included three Grey Cup Championships.

At uOttawa, Lumsden set national records in points scored, rushing yards, and touchdowns - many of which lasted for over 30 years. 

In 1975, Lumsden recorded 148 points which remains the OUA record for points in a season as of 2021. His 410 career points remained the national record until 2013 and now ranks fifth all-time, and second in Gee-Gees team history.

Lumsden scored five touchdowns in a single game against Queen's on November 1, 1975. Overall he scored 14 touchdowns that season as part of Ottawa's march to an undefeated, national championship season. In the College Bowl championship game he recorded 169 yards on 27 rushes, as well as two converts.

Some of his CFL career highlights include being the eastern conference nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie in 1976 and winning three Grey Cup Championships with Edmonton from 1980 to 1982. In the 1981 Grey Cup game Lumsden with 8 receptions for 91 yards plus a carry for 2 yards was selected as the Outstanding Canadian.

In ten CFL seasons Lumsden played in 141 regular season games and carried the ball 767 times for 3755 yards and with 36 touchdowns. He also had 180 receptions for 1729 yards and 15 more touchdowns. Several times during his career he was called on to fill in as a placekicker and punter. He hoisted the Grey Cup again in 1999 as General Manager of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Lumsden was inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He was elected the Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in June 2022, and was shortly thereafter appointed Ontario's minister of tourism, culture and sport. 

at uOttawa

1972: 48 points, OUA Most Valuable Player, All-Canadian

1973: 113 points, OUA Most Valuable Player, All-Canadian

1974: 101 points, All-Canadian

1975: 148 points, OUA Most Valuable Player, All-Canadian, College Bowl MVP 

CFL

Drafted by Toronto as a Territorial Exemption in the 1976 CFL Draft

1976-78: Toronto Argonauts - Eastern Conference Most Outstanding Rookie 1976

1978-79: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

1980-1985: Edmonton - Grey Cup Champion 1981, 1982, 1983