Statement on the Passing of Jim Hopson
April 3, 2024 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
TORONTO - The Canadian Football League (CFL) has released the following statement regarding the passing of Jim Hopson.
Jim liked to tell people he was just a big, old offensive lineman. That sounded like self deprecation to some. But fellow members of the most unique fraternity in sport understood that he was really signalling his pride, in having blocked for the likes of Lancaster and Reed, and the responsibility he felt, to protect his beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders and grow the game.
The truth is Jim could have left out the part about being big - that was obvious to all of us who were fortunate enough to know him. And it wasn't just his physical stature. His beaming smile, his loud voice, his crushing handshake - and most of all, his dreams for football in Saskatchewan - were only available in size XXXL.
As the Riders' first full-time President and CEO, he played an equally big role in the transformation of the Saskatchewan Roughriders from the little engine that could to a powerhouse of a modern franchise, working with the team's talented Board of Directors and passionate fan base.
His many CFL friends are grateful for his contributions, which have earned him a place in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, as we mourn his passing, and send our sympathies to his beloved Brenda, family and friends.
Randy Ambrosie
Commissioner
Canadian Football League
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