Joe Poplawski

Joe Poplawski
Date of birth	August 2, 1957 (age 67)
Place of birth	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Career information
Status	Retired
CFL status	National
Position(s)	SB/WR
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg)
Canada university	Alberta
CFL draft	1978 / round: Terr. Exemption
Drafted by	Edmonton Eskimos
Career history
As player
1978	Edmonton Eskimos*
1978–1986	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Career highlights and awards
	Grey Cup champion (1984);
CFL All-Star	1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
CFL West All-Star	1978, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
Awards	1978 - Most Outstanding Rookie
Honours	1981 & 1986 - Most Outstanding Canadian
Career stats
	Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 1998;

Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986.

Professional career

Poplawski was originally a territorial exemption his hometown team the Edmonton Eskimos and prior to the beginning of the 1978 season he was traded to the Bombers in exchange for their star receiver Tom Scott. With 75 receptions for 998 yards and 8 touchdowns, Poplawski won the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 1978.^[1] That season he was also selected to the Western Conference and CFL all-star team as a wide receiver. Despite a short career Poplawski achieved many more accolades including twice winning the Most Outstanding Canadian awards in 1981 and 1986. He was also the runner-up for this award in 1980, 1984 and 1985. He was selected to the All-Star team five times, first as mentioned above and four more times as a slotback in 1981, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Poplawski helped the Bombers win the 72nd Grey Cup in 1984 with five catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. At the age of 29, he ended career with 8,341 receiving yards on 549 receptions and with 48 touchdowns. In his final season, he temporarily filled in as the team's kicker, following an injury to Trevor Kennerd. Poplawski made 8 out of 10 field goals, totalling 233 yards, with his longest coming from 45 yards out.^[2]

Statistics

Receiving		Regular season
Year	Team	Games	Rec	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
1978	WPG	16	75	998	13.3	44	8
1979	WPG	2	3	35	11.7	17	0
1980	WPG	14	56	897	16.0	68	5
1981	WPG	16	84	1,271	15.1	55	8
1982	WPG	16	57	825	14.5	47	2
1983	WPG	15	58	971	15.7	41	8
1984	WPG	16	67	998	14.9	62	3
1985	WPG	16	75	1,271	16.9	47	6
1986	WPG	18	74	1,075	14.5	65	8
CFL totals		129	549	8,341	15.2	68	48

Post-playing career

After leaving football Poplawski pursued a career as a professional soccer player. Currently he heads up the Cavalier Drive branch of Ranger Insurance in Winnipeg, acquired in July 2014 by Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited.^[3] Poplawski also worked as an analyst for CJOB radio alongside play by play man Bob Irving.

In 2005, Poplawski was named one of the Blue Bombers 20 All-Time Greats and was elected into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2004.^[4]