Gene Gaines

Gene Gaines played his highschool football in LA, and his college ball at UCLA.  Montreal's J.I. Albrecht recruited both Gaines and Marv Luster for the Als in 1961, a third Bruin, QB Billy Kilmer turned down an offer to come to Montreal.  Gaines was an offensive star at UCLA, but Montreal had George Dixon and Don Clark at running back, so Gaines played mainly defense for Montreal.  After 1961, Montreal traded Gaines to Ottawa for another CFL legend, defensive tackle Angelo Mosca.  Gaines played eight seasons in Ottawa (1962-1969), not missing a single game in those eight seasons.  Gaines won four East All-Stars with the Rough  Riders, at linebacker in 1963 and at defenisve back in 1965, 1966 and 1967.  Gaines was also a CFL All-Star three times, 1965, 1966 and 1967.  Gaines played out his option season with Ottawa in 1969, and when Sam Barger and Red O'Quinn left Ottawa to go to Montreal in 1970, Gaines was ready to retire and take a job as a coach with the Als.  Montreal swung a deal with Ottawa, sending Rob Woodward and John Kruspe to the Rough Riders, and Gaines became a player-coach with Montreal.  Gaines played 7 more years with Montreal, from 1970 to 1976, winning his fifth East All-Star at defensive back in 1971.  In total, Gaines played an amazing 16 years in the CFL, and played every game in 14 of them.  The only significant time he missed due to injury was in 1973 when a broken ankle sidelined him after 5 games.  While Gaines never led the East in interceptions, he did have interceptions on 15 of his 16 seasons, missing only in his second last year in 1975.  Gaines had a career high of 6 interceptions back in 1966, but was having his best season for interceptions in 1973 when he broke his ankle as he had 3 in just 5 games.  Gaines finished with a career total of 42 pass interceptions.  Gaines was also used on kick returns in the early part of his career.  The highlight of that phase of his game had to be the 128 yard kickoff return against Hamilton in the first game of the 1964 East Final.  Gaines played on four Grey Cup champion teams, including three straight from 1968 to 1970.  The first two with Ottawa in 68 and 69, and the third in his first season in Montreal in 1970.  The fourth win came with Montreal in 1974. Gene Gaines was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Gaines Starts Coaching Duties With Alouettes - February 4, 1970

1974 CFL Program Article on Gene Gaines

Games Played, Interceptions and Fumble Returns
Year Team GP Int Yds Avg TDInt Long FR Yds Avg TD Long FF
1961 MON 10 2 8 4 0 8 0 0 0 0 0
1962 OTT 14 4 43 10.8 0 22 0 0 0 0 0
1963 OTT 14 3 90 30 1 37 0 0 0 0 0
1964 OTT 14 3 14 4.7 0 9 0 0 0 0 0
1965 OTT 14 2 17 8.5 0 14 2

0

1966 OTT 14 6 114 19 0 48 2

0

1967 OTT 14 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1968 OTT 14 3 80 26.7 0 40 4 33 8.3 0 14
1969 OTT 14 2 58 29 0 48 0 0 0 0 0
1970 MON 14 4 23 5.8 0 12 2 9 4.5 0 9
1971 MON 14 3 61 20.3 0 30 0 0 0 0 0
1972 MON 14 4 77 19.3 0 22 0 0 0 0 0
1973 MON 5 3 70 23.3 0 31 0 0 0 0 0
1974 MON 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 MON 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1976 MON 16 1 28 28 0 28 3 2 0.7 0 2

Rushing and Receiving
Year Team TC Yds Avg TD Long Rec Yds Avg TD Long
1961 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1962 OTT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1963 OTT 8 51 6.4 0 24 4 46 11.5 1 32
1964 OTT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1965 OTT 9 36 4 0 7 3 60 20 1 28
1966 OTT 8 39 4.9 0 8 0 0 0 0 0
1967 OTT 2 4 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
1968 OTT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1969 OTT 2 7 3.5 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
1970 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1971 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1972 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1976 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kickoff and Punt Returns
Year Team KOR Yds Avg TD Long PR Yds Avg TD Long
1961 MON 0 0 0 0 0 27 165 6.1 0 17
1962 OTT 1 2 2 0 2 7 22 3.1 0 7
1963 OTT 3 42 14 0 19 2 5 2.5 0 3
1964 OTT 12 258 21.5 0 41 3 10 3.3 0 7
1965 OTT 20 357 17.9 0 30 5 27 5.4 0 12
1966 OTT 7 167 23.9 0 30 8 26 3.3 0 10
1967 OTT 13 286 22 0 33 2 21 10.5 0 20
1968 OTT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1969 OTT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1970 MON 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 7 0 7
1971 MON 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
1972 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1973 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1974 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1975 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1976 MON 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Fumbles
Year Team F FL
1961 MON 0
1962 OTT 0
1963 OTT 0
1964 OTT 2
1965 OTT 1
1966 OTT 2
1967 OTT 0
1968 OTT 0
1969 OTT 0
1970 MON 0
1971 MON 0
1972 MON 0
1973 MON 0
1974 MON 0
1975 MON 0
1976 MON 0
1971 OPC Gene Gaines