Joe McGrath (football player)
Encyclopedia
Joe McGrath is a professional Canadian football
offensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the Stampeders in the first round of the 2003 CFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Miami Hurricanes
.
and the number two Canadian high school lineman at graduation.
McGrath played college football
from 1999 through 2003 for the Miami Hurricanes
, three years as a regular at left guard
. He won a national championship with the Hurricanes in 2001.
by the Calgary Stampeders
but was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent on July 7, 2004. He appeared in 15 games at left tackle in the 2004 CFL season
, all 18 regular season games plus the playoffs and the victory in the 93rd Grey Cup
in 2005 CFL season
, and started all 18 regular season games in the 2006 CFL season
. He was nominated by the Eskimos for the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
in 2006.
and was reportedly signed the same day by the Saskatchewan Roughriders
.
.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
offensive tackle for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was drafted by the Stampeders in the first round of the 2003 CFL Draft
2003 CFL Draft
The 2003 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2003. 53 players were chosen for Canadian Football League teams from among the eligible CIS football players from Canadian universities, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA.-Round one:-Round two:...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
.
Early years
McGrath was coached by his father at Vanier Collegiate Institute in Moose Jaw and was considered an all-star in both football and basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and the number two Canadian high school lineman at graduation.
McGrath played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
from 1999 through 2003 for the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
, three years as a regular at left guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
. He won a national championship with the Hurricanes in 2001.
First stint with Eskimos
McGrath was drafted second overall in the 2003 CFL Draft2003 CFL Draft
The 2003 CFL Draft took place on April 30, 2003. 53 players were chosen for Canadian Football League teams from among the eligible CIS football players from Canadian universities, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA.-Round one:-Round two:...
by the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
but was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent on July 7, 2004. He appeared in 15 games at left tackle in the 2004 CFL season
2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
, all 18 regular season games plus the playoffs and the victory in the 93rd Grey Cup
93rd Grey Cup
The 93rd Grey Cup game was held on November 27, 2005, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes, to decide the winner of the 2005 season of the Canadian Football League. The Eskimos prevailed over the Alouettes in a 38-35 overtime...
in 2005 CFL season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, and started all 18 regular season games in the 2006 CFL season
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
. He was nominated by the Eskimos for the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award
The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually rewarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. This is the fourth-last award to be given during the CFL Awards banquet, which takes place the week before Grey Cup weekend in the same city where it is hosted...
in 2006.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
On February 16, 2009, McGrath became a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and was reportedly signed the same day by the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
.
Second stint with Eskimos
McGrath requested a trade back to Edmonton and his request was granted on June 11, 2009. He was released on August 11, 2010.BC Lions
On August 19, 2010, the BC Lions added the recently released McGrath to the offensive line. He was released during the following off-season on May 24, 2011.Calgary Stampeders
On October 18, 2011, McGrath was signed to the practice roster of the Calgary StampedersCalgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.