Ralph Sazio CFL player, coach and executive

Gridiron Greatness: Remembering Ralph Sazio

On a beautiful walk through Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Burlington, Ontario — football in hand — I came across the final resting place of one of Canadian football’s most iconic figures: Ralph Sazio.

Born in Avellino, a small town in southern Italy, Sazio was raised in New Jersey where he quickly stood out for both his brains and brawn. His talents led him to the prestigious College of William & Mary — the second-oldest college in the United States — where he continued to shine on the football field.

Sazio attended the second oldest college in the United States, William & Mary, Virginia.

After graduation, Ralph found a new home north of the border with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, beginning a lifelong relationship with Canadian football. He played, coached, and eventually ran the team, but it was his time as head coach from 1963 to 1967 that cemented his legacy. Under his leadership, the Tiger-Cats reached four Grey Cups and won three — an extraordinary accomplishment in just five seasons.

However, after Harold Ballard’s arrival and growing influence in Hamilton’s front office, Sazio decided it was time for a new chapter. He moved down the QEW to Toronto, becoming president of the Argonauts from 1981 to 1990. There, he helped lead the team to one of its most memorable triumphs — the 1983 Grey Cup championship, their first title in 31 years, with Joe Barnes leading the charge under centre.

Standing at Sazio’s grave, I was reminded of how deeply football is woven into the fabric of Canadian sport — and how people like Ralph Sazio shaped that legacy not only with wins, but with vision, loyalty, and a true love of the game.

Ralph Sazio died in Burlington, Ontario on September 25, 2008. He was 86.

1922-2008