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Matt Dunigan with the Edmonton Eskimos in the '80s. Source: https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com (May be subject to copyright) |
The only option I had seen was this spindly, long-haired back-up who hadn’t even thrown much of a spiral.
From those humble beginnings, that back-up would restore the Eskimos to respectability. He would take two other teams to the Grey Cup, set a single-game passing yards record with a third, be a CFL all-star with a fourth, and ultimately be elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Now he is entertaining football fans as a broadcaster, part of a panel in studio, and occasionally as a colour commentator in the broadcast booth.
For Matt Dunigan, an amazing career started in the 1980s.
Getting his feet wet
Dunigan backed up Warren Moon in 1983, but appeared in all 16 regular season games, going 14 of 26 with 239 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 23 yards.
Dunigan backed up Warren Moon in 1983, but appeared in all 16 regular season games, going 14 of 26 with 239 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 23 yards.
He became the full-time starter in 1984, leading Edmonton to a 9-7 record, good enough for third place in the West Division, where they lost the West Semi-final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dunigan played in 13 games, going 220 for 412 for 3,273 yards, 19 touchdowns, 21 interceptions and a long of 81 yards. He also rushed for 732 yards, nine touchdowns, and an average of 8.2 yards.
In 1985, Dunigan played in 14 games, leading the Eskimos to a 10-6 record, a third place finish in the West Division and a date in the West Semi-final, which they lost against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Dunigan went 242 of 405 for 3,410 yards, 19 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a long of 89 yards. He rushed for 737 yards, nine touchdowns, and an average 6.5 yards.
Dunigan was really just getting his feet wet as a starter. His numbers show he was still having trouble adjusting and reading defences as his interception totals increased, surpassing his touchdown total in 1985. Yet he was coming into his own, because he was also named a CFL and a West Division all-star.
Yet, a renaissance was coming, as Matt Dunigan was learning, and poised to break out.
Grey Cup bound
The first game of the 1986 season showed exactly what was to come. The Calgary Stampeders were on the verge of folding after the 1985 season, but managed to survive through a “Save Our Stamps” campaign. They re-tooled their entire team, and did end up making the playoffs.
The first game of the 1986 season showed exactly what was to come. The Calgary Stampeders were on the verge of folding after the 1985 season, but managed to survive through a “Save Our Stamps” campaign. They re-tooled their entire team, and did end up making the playoffs.
Their season opener was at home against Edmonton. The teams went back and forth, and Calgary definitely showed they were a much different team than the door mat the Stampeders were the year before.
They led late, but I had this uneasy feeling. Dunigan was playing okay, but he seemed unflappable, and totally calm. There was no panic, just confidence. Then he unloaded a bomb to Stephen Jones and the Eskimos pulled out the victory. It was just like Warren Moon and Tom Wilkinson. They just were never out of a game, especially against the Stampeders.
Dunigan would lead the Eskimos to a 13-4-1 record, good enough for first place in the West Division. That year, the CFL had introduced a new format for the playoffs if the fourth place team in one division had a better record than the third place team in the other. In this scenario, the fourth place team would play first and second and third would play. So, Edmonton played Calgary, defeating them, then beating B.C, in the West Division Final.
For the season, Dunigan went 275 of 485 for 3,648 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a long of 68 yards. He rushed for 594 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of five yards.
The Eskimos faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Grey Cup, and were blown out. The Tiger-Cats, who had been 12 point under dogs, were all over Dunigan, jumping out to a 29-0 halftime lead, and chasing him from the game.
It was a lesson he would learn for the 1987 season.
Dunigan had another good season, going 175 for 326, for 2,823 yards, 21 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He rushed for 287 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 5.6 yards.
The Eskimos would have a tougher road, if they wanted to get back to the Grey Cup. They had another good season, finishing with a record of 11-7, falling to second place in the West Division.
That set up a date with the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division Semi-Final at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. That was the first game I ever went to, and it was a good one. The Stamps stayed close, tying the game on an interception return for a touchdown.
However, Dunigan got the Stamps again. Remaining calm and poised, he led the Eskimos to an insurmountable lead. We heckled him, throughout the game too. I did not feel bad about that, becaue of what he did in the last few plays. The Eskimos had the game won and, instead of running out the clock, he plunged into the end zone for another touchdown. It was a long time before I forgave him for that, if I ever did as a player.
He would take the Eskimos to Vancouver the next week for the West Division Final, where they beat the Lions to go to the Grey Cup. The Eskimos stayed in town, because the game was at B.C. Place. They won the Grey Cup in a thriller on a last-second field goal by Jerry Kauric to beat the Toronto Argonauts.
Dunigan got knocked out of that game as back-up Damon Allen came on to lead Edmonton to victory.
It was the last game Dunigan ever played for the Eskimos.
Go west young man
I remember hearing the news when I was at a leadership camp at Blue Lake near Hinton. Matt Dunigan, was traded to the B.C. Lions in a massive trade that sent seven players to the Eskimos.
I remember hearing the news when I was at a leadership camp at Blue Lake near Hinton. Matt Dunigan, was traded to the B.C. Lions in a massive trade that sent seven players to the Eskimos.
Dunigan flirted with a professional baseball career, working out and hoping to catch on with the Montreal Expos. That did not work out, and he indicated he did not want to return to Edmonton. The result was a trade that set up B.C. for a Grey Cup run, and turned Edmonton into a regular season powerhouse.
Incredibly, the Eskimos received receiver Jim Sandusky, pass rusher Gregg Stumon, linebacker Jeff Braswell, defensive back Andre Francis, runningback Reggie Taylor, defensive end Leroy Blugh, and the Lions’ first pick in the 1989 CFL draft, which turned out to be all-star fullback Michael Soles.
All of that talent for Dunigan. Incredible.
For the 1988 season, it all seemed worth it.
Dunigan helped the Lions win their last nine straight games, finish third in the West and qualify for the West Division Semi-Final against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Lions ran the table, beating the Riders in Regina then the Eskimos in Edmonton to advance to the Grey Cup against Winnipeg in Ottawa. It was the first time the Blue Bombers were representing the East in the Grey Cup, moved to that division after the folding of the Montreal franchise in 1987.
The teams went back and forth, but Dunigan threw a costly interception in the end zone on a deflection late in the fourth quarter, to give the Bombers a 22-21 victory and the chance to hoist the Grey Cup in victory.
Dunigan was a CFL and East Division All-Star in 1988. He went 268 for 471 for 3,776 yards, 26 toiuchdowns and 22 interceptions. He also rushed for 501 yards, six touchdowns, and an average 5.2 yards.
He closed out the decade in 1989 with his last season in Vancouver. He went 331 of 597 for 4,509 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. He also rushed for 397 yards, 10 touchdowns, and an average of 5.7 yards.
It had been a good decade for Dunigan and would get better.
The years after
Matt Dunigan was traded to the Toronto Argonauts where he played in 1990 and 1991. His legend grew in 1991, when he led the Argos to a Grey Cup victory playing with a frozen shoulder.
Matt Dunigan was traded to the Toronto Argonauts where he played in 1990 and 1991. His legend grew in 1991, when he led the Argos to a Grey Cup victory playing with a frozen shoulder.
He would move on to Winnipeg, where he played in 1992, 1993, and 1994. In 1994, he set a single game professional football passing record with 713 yards against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The CFL expanded to Birmingham in 1995, so Dunigan headed south where he was again named a CFL and South Division All-Star.
After Birmingham folded, Dunigan played with the Hamiltn Tiger-Cats in 1996. However, he only played six games before a massive hit gave him the concussion that led him to announce his retirement.
He finished his career passing for 43,857 yards and 303 touchdowns, and rushing for 5,031 yards and 77 touchdowns.
He was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Parting thoughts
What is there left to say about Matt Dunigan? He accomplished everything a player could, winning Grey Cups with two different teams and appearing with two other teams; being named a division and league all-star; and being elected to the hall of fame.
What is there left to say about Matt Dunigan? He accomplished everything a player could, winning Grey Cups with two different teams and appearing with two other teams; being named a division and league all-star; and being elected to the hall of fame.
Maybe the best part for fans, is that he is sharing his vast knowledge and experience now from the broadcast booth.
It just extends what has already been an amazing career.
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