John A "Tony" Proudfoot was an All-Star defensive back in the Canadian Football League, teacher, coach, broadcaster and journalist.
32 Facts About Tony Proudfoot
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Tony Proudfoot was a Grey Cup champion twice as a player, and twice as special consultant to Montreal Alouettes head coach Marc Trestman in 2009 and 2010.
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In 2007, Proudfoot was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a motor neurone disease for which there is no known cure.
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Tony Proudfoot wrote regular updates on his deterioration in the Montreal Gazette.
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Tony Proudfoot founded the Tony Proudfoot Fund for ALS Research at the ALS Society of Quebec, which raised over $500,000 for research into the disease.
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Tony Proudfoot was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and later moved to Pointe-Claire, Quebec.
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Tony Proudfoot attended John Rennie High School, graduating in 1966.
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Tony Proudfoot went on to study at the University of New Brunswick and played as a linebacker for the university's football team.
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In 1971, Tony Proudfoot graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
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Tony Proudfoot was a Montreal Alouettes draft pick in 1971, and played for them for nine seasons, including five Grey Cup championship games.
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Tony Proudfoot initially played as a linebacker, and was cut in that role.
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Tony Proudfoot played on the Alouette's 1974 Grey Cup winning team.
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Tony Proudfoot later reflected that his success in professional football was due to being able to work, learn, ask good questions and process information, as "I didn't have great ability".
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Tony Proudfoot played three seasons with the BC Lions.
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Tony Proudfoot retired from the CFL at the end of the 1982 season.
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Tony Proudfoot coached youth community teams and school teams in Pointe-Claire, Lower Canada College as well as the Junior Alouettes and the Junior Concordes.
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Tony Proudfoot pursued further education, and received a master's degree in sports science at McGill University.
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Tony Proudfoot served as assistant coach to Alouettes head coach Rod Rust in 2001, but continued to work as a broadcast analyst, never betraying the confidences of the team and its players during his broadcasts.
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In 2002, Tony Proudfoot began planning a book to examine about which traits and qualities result in greatness in a CFL player.
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Tony Proudfoot saw some of the injured from his office window during the 2006 Dawson College shooting, and descended with his first aid kit.
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Tony Proudfoot first noticed that his speech was slurred while lecturing at Concordia University in February, 2007.
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Tony Proudfoot was widely admired for the lack of self-pity, bravery and humour he showed in facing the disease, and for using it as an opportunity for education and to raise money for research.
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Tony Proudfoot served as a guest coach for the Alouettes during the team's 2008 training camp.
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Tony Proudfoot was invited back for 2009 despite no longer being able to communicate verbally, and instead used a small whiteboard on which he wrote notes or drew diagrams.
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In 2008, Tony Proudfoot was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Football Reporters wing.
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In 2008, Tony Proudfoot was awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree from the University of New Brunswick.
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Tony Proudfoot served as special consultant to the Alouettes head coach, Marc Trestman during the 2009 and 2010 CFL seasons, which were both Grey Cup winning seasons for the team.
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Tony Proudfoot was given a Grey Cup ring in the spring of 2010.
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Tony Proudfoot was interviewed regularly by radio, TV and print media across Canada.
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In December, 2010, the newspaper published an emotional farewell address from Tony Proudfoot, recapping previous articles he had written about his struggle with ALS and thanking supporters.
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Tony Proudfoot was married and had two daughters and a son.
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Tony Proudfoot moved to The West Island Palliative Care Residence on 28 December 2010, and died two days later at the age of 61.