Joe Kapp, a former NFL/CFL football player, coach, and executive, passed away on May 8th at the age of 85. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of California, Berkeley. Kapp played professionally in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders and the BC Lions and then in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings and the Boston Patriots. Kapp returned to his alma mater as head coach of the Golden Bears from 1982 to 1986. He was the general manager and president of the BC Lions in 1990.
Kapp is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the BC Sports Hall of Fame, the BC Lions Wall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the University of California Athletic Hall of Fame. Kapp’s #22 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the Lions. In November 2006, Kapp was voted into the Honour Roll of the CFL’s top 50 players of the league’s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN. Sports Illustrated once called him “The Toughest Chicano.” Kapp is the only player to play quarterback in the Super Bowl, Rose Bowl, and the Grey Cup.
Kapp was a player and coach on the following teams:
Calgary Stampeders (1959–1960)
BC Lions (1961–1966)
Minnesota Vikings (1967–1969)
Boston Patriots (1970)
As a coach:
California (1982–1986)
Sacramento Attack (1992)
As an administrator:
BC Lions (1990) (GM)
The following accolades and achievements were accumulated over Kapp’s career:
NFL champion (1969)
Pro Bowl (1969)
50 Greatest Vikings
CFL Grey Cup champion (1964)
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (1963)
2× CFL All-Star (1963, 1964)
2× CFL West-All-Star (1963, 1964)
BC Lions jersey No.. 22 retired
Bob Bourne Memorial Trophy (1963)
and he set an NFL record for the
Most touchdown passes in a game: 7 (tied)
Condolences to his family and friends and may he Rest in Peace.