Ottawa Redblacks Wall of Honour inductee Gene Gaines passes away at 85

Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee Gene Gaines has passed away at the age of 85, the Ottawa Redblacks confirmed on Thursday.

The native of Los Angeles, Calif. played defensive back with the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1962 to 1969 as part of a 17-year CFL career. He was a three-time CFL all-star, the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player in 1966, and won two Grey Cups with Ottawa in 1968 and 1969.

Gaines still holds the CFL playoff record for longest kickoff return as he brought one back for 128 yards in the 1964 East Final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

The UCLA product was inducted into Ottawa’s Wall of Honour at TD Place during their home-opener on June 15 alongside Dave Thelen and Greg Marshall.

“The history of CFL football in Ottawa is special and an important part of who the Redblacks are today,” said team president Adrian Sciarra at the time. “We’re proud to honour these three legendary former players by immortalizing them on our Wall of Honour.”