Joe Poplawski

Canadian football player

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.

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. 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.

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

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. 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.