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Canadian quarterback Gerry Dattilio in his second stint with the Montreal Alouettes. Source: https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2019/01/17/tips-quebecois-qb-made-pros/ (May be subject to copyright) |
That all reminded me of one of the best Canadian quarterbacks ever.
He is second to Russ Jackson in a lot of categories, and was likely the last long-term Canadian starting quarterback in the CFL.
However, if I was to mention the name Gerry Datillio to the average fan, they likely wouldn’t know who he was.
I do, and I remember him in two incarnations – with the Montreal Alouettes then with the Calgary Stampeders.
Pre-history
Gerry Dattilio was originally from Quebec, but played his college football at Northern Colorado from 1972 to 1974. He was a territorial protection of Montreal, but was released and picked up by Toronto in 1975.
Gerry Dattilio was originally from Quebec, but played his college football at Northern Colorado from 1972 to 1974. He was a territorial protection of Montreal, but was released and picked up by Toronto in 1975.
They too released him the next season, after he suited up just once for the Double Blue, and rejoined the Alouettes for the 1976 season. He was the third string quarterback behind Sonny Wade and Joe Barnes, so Dattilio didn’t see much action.
In fact, in the 1976 season, he appeared in all 16 games, but only completed one of three passes for 14 yards. He also rushed four times for 15 yards. Wikipedia said Dattilio found other ways to contribute early in his career in Montreal, so he caught two passes for 19 yards.
Things were pretty much the same in the 1977 season, where Dattilio appeared in all 16 games again, completing one of two passes for 20 yards and one touchdown. He also returned a punt for nine years, and blocked a kick. That year, he earned his first Grey Cup ring as the Alouettes beat the Edmonton Eskimos in the “Ice Bowl”.
In 1978, Dattilio saw more playing time, as Joe Barnes became the starter and Sonny Wade was in his last year in the Canadian Football League. Dattilio appeared in all 16 games yet again, completing 78 of 142 passes for 1,120 yards, five touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed 31 times for 212 yards and a touchdown, and caught one pass for 14 yards, as Montreal advanced all the way to the Grey Cup before losing to Edmonton.
In 1979, Dattilio played in 16 games, completing nine out of 21 passes for 115 yards and three interceptions, while rushing for 18 yards on six carries, and caught four passes for 80 yards. Montreal advanced to their third straight Grey Cup, losing again to the Edmonton Eskimos.
At the dawn of the new decade, change was coming to Montreal, and Gerry Dattilio’s playing time would increase dramatically.
Career season
The 1980 season started with Joe Barnes planted firmly as Montreal’s starting quarterback. Yet, after six games he had not lived up to the expectations of the team, so they benched Barnes and soon after dealt him to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 1980 season started with Joe Barnes planted firmly as Montreal’s starting quarterback. Yet, after six games he had not lived up to the expectations of the team, so they benched Barnes and soon after dealt him to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Gerry Dattilio would now get his shot as a starting quarterback.
He made the most of that opportunity.
Dattilio would have a career season, playing in all 16 regular season games, where he completed 179 out of 311 passes for 2,892 yards, 19 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, while rushing for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 61 carries. The Alouettes would finish second in the East Division with an 8-8 record and defeat Ottawa in the East Semi Final. They then lost in the East Final to Hamilton, who would go on to lose in the Grey Cup to Edmonton.
Gerry Dattilio was named an East Division All Star; was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian; and was the CFL East Most Outstanding Player, runner-up for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award to fellow quarterback Dieter Brock of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Back of the line
Businessman Nelson Skalbania purchased the Montreal Alouettes in 1981 and decided to bring in a lot of high-priced talent from the NFL. His biggest signing was quarterback Vince Ferragamo, who had just led the Los Angeles Rams to within a few minutes of winning the Super Bowl.
Businessman Nelson Skalbania purchased the Montreal Alouettes in 1981 and decided to bring in a lot of high-priced talent from the NFL. His biggest signing was quarterback Vince Ferragamo, who had just led the Los Angeles Rams to within a few minutes of winning the Super Bowl.
Obviously, Ferragamo was not going to sit behind anyone and learn the Canadian game. Instead, Dattilio was relegated to backing up Ferragamo. He watching Ferragamo struggle to adjust to the Canadian game and, after one season, return to the United States and the NFL.
Still, Dattilio appeared in all 16 games, completing 69 out of 122 passes for 1,095 yards, four touchdowns, seven interceptions, and rush 12 times for 43 yards. He also passed for 427 yards in one game. That was a single-game record for a Canadian quarterback that held up until Nathan Rourke broke it in 2022. Montreal wound up with a 3-13 record but, incredibly, finished third in the East Division, ahead of Toronto who was 2-14 and behind Ottawa who was 5-11. They faced Ottawa in the East Semi Final, losing to the Rough Riders at Landsdowne Park in Ottawa.
After the season, Dattilio was on the move to the Calgary Stampeders. With a few games remaining in the 1981 season, Calgary sent quarterback Ken Johnson, linebacker John Palazeti, and linebacker Frank Kosec to Montreal for a player to be named later. In fact, Johnson replaced Ferragamo as starter for the last three regular season games and the East Semi Final against Ottawa.
Dattilio was that player to be named later who went to Calgary.
Cowtown quarterback
Gerry Dattilio was named the starting quarterback for the Stampeders for the 1982 season. This is where I really got to see him play, and really got to like him. He played in all 16 games for Calgary, completing 194 of 387 passes for 2,788 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, while also rushing for 254 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. It was the last time a Candian quarterback passed for more than 2,000 yards until Rourke did it in the 2022 season.
Gerry Dattilio was named the starting quarterback for the Stampeders for the 1982 season. This is where I really got to see him play, and really got to like him. He played in all 16 games for Calgary, completing 194 of 387 passes for 2,788 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions, while also rushing for 254 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. It was the last time a Candian quarterback passed for more than 2,000 yards until Rourke did it in the 2022 season.
While Joe Barnes was leading a renaissance in Toronton, Dattilio helped Calgary have a pretty good season too. The Stampeders finished third in the West Division, with a record of 9-6-1, but were thumped by Winnipeg who went on to lose the West Final to Edmonton. The Eskimos would then win their fifth straight Grey Cup, over Joe Barnes’ Toronto Argonauts.
In 1983, the Stampeders decided to go in a different direction, starting rookie quarterback Bernard Quarles and relegating Dattilio to back up yet again. Still, he appeared in 16 games where he completed 104 of 183 passes for 1,213 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 65 yards on 13 carries.
Calgary finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.
Before the start of the 1984 season, Dattlio was traded back to Montreal for defensive lineman Lyall Woznesensky.
End of the road
He would finish out his playing days as a back-up in Montreal. He appeared in 16 games in 1984, completing 48 of 75 passes for 568 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Montreal finished third in the East Division with a record of 6-9-1, and lost to Hamilton in the East Semi Final.
He would finish out his playing days as a back-up in Montreal. He appeared in 16 games in 1984, completing 48 of 75 passes for 568 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions, while rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Montreal finished third in the East Division with a record of 6-9-1, and lost to Hamilton in the East Semi Final.
The 1985 season would be Dattilio’s last. He appeared in 16 games, completing 13 of 25 passes for 127 yards, was intercepted four times, and rushed twice for minus-two yards. He also caught one pass for 13 yards. Montreal finished second in the East Division with an 8-8 record, the same as Hamilton who was awarded first on the basis of a tie-breaker. The Concordes defeated Ottawa in the East Semi Final before losing to Hamilton in the East Final.
Gerry Datillio finished his career second in most significant categories for Canadian quarterbacks. He is second all time in passing yards with 9,952, completing 697 of 1,271 passes with 53 touchdowns and 79 interceptions. He also rushed for 993 yards on 189 carries and eight touchdowns.
Parting thoughts
The first time I heard of Gerry Dattilio was when I first got into watching football. My friend and neigbour Mike told me about the Montreal Alouettes and their two quarterbacks – Joe Barnes and Joe Dattilio. Only when I started watching did I realize his name was actually Gerry.
The first time I heard of Gerry Dattilio was when I first got into watching football. My friend and neigbour Mike told me about the Montreal Alouettes and their two quarterbacks – Joe Barnes and Joe Dattilio. Only when I started watching did I realize his name was actually Gerry.
I also didn’t realize he was Canadian, because they never really made a big deal about it. Not that I recall anyway.
It was a big deal though, because he put up some impressive numbers, especially when compared to other Canadian quarterbacks. In fact, he was one of the few Canadian quarterbacks to see significant playing time since Russ Jackson and until Nathan Rourke and Tre Ford came along.
Yet, Gerry Dattilio is rarely mentioned when the subject of Canadian quarterbacks comes up.
Maybe it’s because people don’t realize he is Canadian. After all, I didn’t know that at first.
It is all beside the point, because Gerry Dattilio is a great Canadian quarterback, one of the greatest in history.
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