View source for Jerry Keeling

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (1939–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name = 
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|1939|08|02}}
| birth_place = [[Paris, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|01|20|1939|08|02}}
| death_place = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| team = 
| number = 10, 14
| status = Retired
| import = yes
| position1 = Quarterback
| position2 = Defensive back
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 175
| college = [[University of Tulsa|Tulsa]]
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1961}}–{{CFL Year|1972}}
| playing_team1 = [[Calgary Stampeders]]
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1973}}–{{CFL Year|1975}}
| playing_team2 = [[Ottawa Rough Riders]]
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|1975}}
| playing_team3 = [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]
| career_highlights = 
* 2× [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[59th Grey Cup|1971]], [[61st Grey Cup|1973]])
| CFLAllStar = {{CFL Year|1964}}, {{CFL Year|1965}}, {{CFL Year|1967}}
| CFLWestAllStar = {{CFL Year|1964}}–{{CFL Year|1968}}
| CFHOF = jerry-keeling
| CFHOFYear = 1989
}}

'''Jerry Keeling''' (August 2, 1939 – January 20, 2018) was a [[quarterback]] and [[defensive back]] in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL), playing fifteen seasons from 1961 to 1975 for the [[Calgary Stampeders]], [[Ottawa Rough Riders]], and [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]]. For his great play, he became a member of the [[Canadian Football Hall of Fame]] in 1989.

==Calgary Stampeders==
The [[Paris, Texas]]-born [[Enid, Oklahoma]]-reared Keeling was a member of the Stampeders from 1961 to 1972, playing defensive back and quarterback positions. It was only in [[1969 CFL season|1969]] that Keeling became the starting quarterback. Keeling was the winning quarterback in the [[1970 CFL season|1970]] Western Conference finals in a best of 3 series against the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]], the final game in brutally cold weather (see video clip below) won by Calgary by a score of 15–14, one of the coldest football games ever.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

But the team lost the [[58th Grey Cup]] game played on a very muddy field to the [[Montreal Alouettes]]. However, after beating Saskatchewan again in the Western Conference finals in [[1971 CFL season|1971]], he beat the [[Toronto Argonauts]] during the rainy [[59th Grey Cup]] game, his first championship victory.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Ottawa Rough Riders==
Keeling became an Ottawa Rough Rider from 1973 to 1975. In [[1973 CFL season|1973]], he was their starting quarterback and led his team to the [[61st Grey Cup]]. However, he was replaced by [[Rick Cassata]] in the title game because of an injury.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jerry Keeling|publisher=Canadian Football Hall of Fame|url=http://www.cfhof.ca/members/jerry-keeling/|access-date=2010-07-13}}</ref> Ottawa won that game, Keeling's second and last Grey Cup win.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

==Hamilton Tiger-Cats==
He ended his career in [[1975 CFL season|1975]] as the starting quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which finished 5–10–1 yet made the playoffs, though defeated on the first round by the Alouettes.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

== Coaching ==

Keeling was an assistant coach for the Stampeders from 1982 to 1983.

==Death==
Keeling died on Saturday, January 20, 2018. At the time of his death he was living in Oklahoma with his wife Vella.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/football-sports-pmn/cfl-football-sports-pmn/former-stampeders-quarterback-jerry-keeling-dies-at-78|title=Former Stampeders quarterback Jerry Keeling dies at 78|date=20 January 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.tulsaworld.com/obituaries/deaths-published-jan/article_94b71ed4-38dd-5f31-86a1-1158b12b2580.html Deaths published Jan. 22, 2018]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|Kuclh4OdxCI|Seen in game 3 of the 1970 Western finals in its entirety}}

{{Tulsa Golden Hurricane quarterback navbox}}
{{59th Grey Cup}}
{{61st Grey Cup}}
{{StampedersQuarterback}}
{{Ottawa Rough Riders starting quarterback navbox}}
{{TiCatsQuarterback}}
{{CFL passing touchdowns leaders}}
{{Canadian Football Hall of Fame members}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Keeling, Jerry}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Paris, Texas]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Texas]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Texas]]
[[Category:Calgary Stampeders players]]
[[Category:Canadian football defensive backs]]
[[Category:Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Canadian football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Enid, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Enid High School alumni]]