Top 10 NFL players who got their start in the CFL
9. Joe Kapp
Kapp is certainly the oldest player on this list, but had a similar impact to the rest in both the CFL and NFL. A terrific athlete, Kapp played both basketball and football at Cal, becoming an All-American for the Golden Bears on the gridiron. While he was selected in the 18th round of the 1959 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, Kapp instead went off to the CFL to play for the Calgary Stampeders who he led to the playoffs in his first season. In 1961, the quarterback was dealt to a relatively new BC Lions franchise. Three years later, Kapp led the Lions to a Grey Cup title. After solid seasons in 1965 and 1966, Kapp decided to pursue a career in the NFL, and was dealt to the league in one of the few known deals that involved the CFL and NFL.聽
As a result, Kapp ended up with the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting with general manager Jim Fink who brought the quarterback to the CFL with the Stampeders. Taking over for Fran Tarkenton under legendary head coach Bud Grant in Minnesota, Kapp put up modest numbers in both 1967 and 1968, but was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1969 as he threw for 1,726 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading the Vikings to a 12-1 record and an appearance in Super Bowl IV. Kapp鈥檚 final year in the NFL would be a rough one with the Boston Patriots, however, as he threw for just over 1,000 yards and only three touchdowns.
