Ed McQuarters is well remembered in Saskatchewan as one of the best defensive tackles ever to wear the green and white. From the University of Okalhoma, McQuarters was an eighteenth round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL in 1965. The Cardinals switched McQuarters to defensive end where he just didn't have the size at six foot one to compete and he was released in 1966 just in time to join the Riders for their first Grey Cup win in franchise history. McQuarters would go on to play nine years with the Riders until 1974, but players on that 1966 team always have a special place in Rider fans hearts. There were no quarterback sack or defensive tackle stats kept during the time McQuarters played, so you have to rely on things like awards and all-star selections to try and get a grasp on how god McQuarters was. McQuarters won both West and CFL All-Star selections in 1967, 1968 and 1969. McQuarters was named the top lineman in the CFL in 1967, and the top line man in the West in 1968 (tied with teammate Ted Urness) and 1969. What stats there are for McQuarters show him with 10 career fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown in 1971, one career interception which he made the most of, returning it 68 yards for a touchdown and four career blocked kicks. Like many players, McQuarters suffered injuries, especially later in his career, but he is one of very few to return from one type of injury. In 1971, McQuarters lost an eye in a carpentry accident in the off season. That injury would have finished most players, but McQuarters returned to the Riders and was still one of the top defensive tackles in the league. Ed McQuarters was named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
Ed McQuarters in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Ed McQuarters on CFLscrapbook.com
McQuarters Wins Lineman of the Year - November 14, 1967
McQuarters Drops Bombshell - March 20, 1970
McQuarters Signs Two Year Pact With Riders - May 26, 1970
Jim Coleman - The Year of Ed McQuarter's Eye - July 21, 1971
Riders Lose McQuarters - September 12, 1973
McQuarters Levels Blast - Players Just Beef on the Hoof
| Year | Team | GP | Int | Yds | Avg | TDInt | Long | FR | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | SASK | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1967 | SASK | 16 | 1 | 68 | 68 | 1 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1968 | SASK | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1969 | SASK | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1970 | SASK | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1971 | SASK | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | |
| 1972 | SASK | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1973 | SASK | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1974 | SASK | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 0 | 18 |
| Year | Team | BK | BC | BFG | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | SASK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | SASK | 1 | |||
| 1968 | SASK | 1 | |||
| 1969 | SASK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | SASK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | SASK | 1 | |||
| 1972 | SASK | 1 | |||
| 1973 | SASK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1974 | SASK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
