A trio of receiving legends from the 2000s are getting their moment in the spotlight once again, headlining an impressive 2024 class for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Weston Dressler, S.J. Green and Chad Owens have all been recognized with enshrinement into the hallowed halls, where they will be joined by cornerback Marvin Coleman and defensive end Vince Goldsmith in the player category. Coaching legend Ray Jauch and touch football proponent Ed Laverty, who will be inducted posthumously, have been inducted into the builder category.
“The Class of 2024 has shaped our game beyond record books and accolades,” CFHOF executive director Eric Noivo said in a statement. “They are heroes to young football players and athletes; they are tremendous leaders who have shared their invaluable time and vast knowledge; they are steadfast champions who helped expand our game to reach more people and more communities.”
“On behalf of every Canadian football fan and the Hall of Fame selection committee, it is my incredible honour to congratulate and celebrate the Class of 2024!”
The Class of 2024 will be officially inducted in an evening ceremony on Friday, September 13 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. The Hall of Fame Game is scheduled for Saturday, September 14 with the Tiger-Cats hosting the Ottawa Redblacks.
In addition to the players and builders, the media wing of the Hall of Fame will welcome two new members during Grey Cup week. Noted stats guru and CFL associate vice-president of football analytics Steve Daniel and long-time TSN insider Farhan Lalji will be recognized by the Football Reporters of Canada for their contributions to covering the game.
Information on the entire class of 2024 can be found below.
CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME – CLASS OF 2024
DB/KR Marvin Coleman — Player
Coleman’s career spanned ten seasons (1994-2003) and 166 games with Calgary and Winnipeg, earning nine Divisional All-Star nods and three CFL All-Star selections. As a defensive back, he tallied 28 interceptions – six of which resulted in touchdowns – and 538 tackles. As a dynamic returner, he still sits fourth all-time with 5,211 punt return yards, in addition to his 11,545 kick return yards and 13 touchdowns (six defensive returns and seven kick returns).
The product of Central State University made four Grey Cup appearances, capturing the iconic trophy in 1998 with the Stampeders.
REC/KR Weston Dressler — Player
Dressler made an immediate impact in the CFL, taking home Most Outstanding Rookie honours with 56 receptions for 1,128 yards, and 1,014 punt return yards. His career 715 catches are good for 13th all-time and his 10,026 yards rank 17th in league history. The former North Dakota Fighting Hawk tallied 65 touchdowns, including five via kick returns.
Over 11 seasons (2008-2018), Dressler played in 161 games for Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. The four-time West Division All-Star and two-time CFL All-Star appeared in two Grey Cup championships, capturing Canadian football’s ultimate prize in 2013 in front of his Roughriders’ home crowd.
DE Vince Goldsmith — Player
Goldsmith entered the CFL in 1981 and notched 17 sacks to earn Most Outstanding Rookie and a nod as a CFL All-Star. Over a 10-season career (1981-1990), he played in 163 contests to total 130.5 sacks, ranking eighth all-time; in 1983, the former Oregon Duck collected a career-high 20. Across a consistent career, he went on to register 10-or-more sacks on eight occasions.
Goldsmith played for Saskatchewan, Toronto and Calgary, earning a trio of Divisional All-Star selections. He emerged victorious in his lone Grey Cup appearance in 1989 as his Roughriders defeated Hamilton.
REC S.J. Green — Player
Green pulled down highlight reel catches for 13 seasons (2007-2019) and 170 games with Montreal and Toronto. At 10,222 receiving yards, he is one of 18 players to surpass 10,000, and his 716 receptions are 12th all-time. He notched 30 career 100-yard games and collected 60 touchdowns.
The native of Fort Worth, Texas, is an eight-time Divisional All-Star and a two-time CFL All-Star. He is a perfect three-for-three in Grey Cup championships – winning twice with Montreal (2009 and 2010) and once with Toronto (2017).
Ray Jauch — Builder
After two seasons as a running back with Winnipeg, Jauch suffered an injury that cut short his promising playing days. He transitioned to coaching in the college ranks before returning to the CFL with Edmonton; after four years as an assistant, he was promoted to head coach in 1970. He went on to assistant and head coaching roles with Saskatchewan from 1991-1995, before becoming an offensive consultant with Toronto in 1999.
Over 14 seasons at the helm, he amassed 127 regular season victories – ranking sixth all-time – while guiding his teams to 11 playoff appearances. He captured his lone Grey Cup in 1975 with Edmonton and was named Coach of the Year in 1980.
Ed Laverty — Builder
The amateur football landscape in Ottawa would not be what it is today without the leadership and dedication of Laverty. As President of the Ottawa Nepean Touch Football League, he was instrumental in shaping the foundations of the game across the region. Under his guidance, the league became a trailblazer for diversity in football, offering divisions for men, women and co-ed teams. The organization grew exponentially through his tenure, growing from six teams to hundreds of clubs.
Laverty served as President of the Ontario Touch Football League for over a decade and he was crucial in establishing Touch Football Canada. Beyond his work in the game, his lasting legacy as a prominent community builder earned him induction into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Laverty is being inducted posthumously after passing away in 2017.
REC/KR Chad Owens — Player
Owens holds the distinction of being the third player in CFL history to lead the league in receiving yards and combined yards. That historic 2012 campaign saw the University of Hawaii alum set the professional football record for combined yards in a single season and earn the Most Outstanding Player award, before capturing the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto as a member of the Argonauts. Owens went on to become the first professional football player to tally at least 3,000 combined yards in three consecutive seasons.
Over a 105-game career spanning nine years (2009-2017) with Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Saskatchewan, The Flyin’ Hawaiian was named a Divisional All-Star five times, a CFL All-Star on four occasions, and the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2010 and 2011. He sits No. 8 in league history in kick return yards (10,309) and No. 10 in combined yards (16,698).
