Doug McNichol the first player ever to be drafted in the inaugural CFL draft in 1953

Doug McNichol — The CFL’s First Draft Pick and a Defensive Standout

On a quiet walk through St. Philip’s Churchyard Cemetery in Etobicoke, Ontario, CFL football in hand, I paused at the grave of a true pioneer in Canadian football history — Doug McNichol, the first-ever player selected in the inaugural CFL Draft.

Born near St. Catharines, Ontario, McNichol made his name on the gridiron while attending the University of Western Ontario, where his size, strength, and explosive play on the defensive line turned heads across the country. When the Canadian Football League held its first official draft in 1953, it was the Montreal Alouettes who chose him as the #1 overall pick — a moment that etched his name forever in league history.

Doug McNichol would go on to have a stellar 11-year CFL career, spending eight seasons with the Alouettes before finishing his playing days as a Toronto Argonaut. Known as a relentless pass rusher and respected locker room leader, McNichol earned All-Star recognition during his career, despite the elusive Grey Cup always remaining just out of reach.

While he may not have hoisted the Cup, his impact was undeniable — both for what he accomplished on the field and for what his selection in that very first draft represented: the beginning of a new, proudly Canadian era in professional football.

Doug McNichol a giant at 6 feet 4 inches and 250 pounds died in Mississauga, Ontario on February 15, 2012. He was 81.

1930-2012