Nick Arakgi
No. 79
Date of birth
(1955-08-09) August 9, 1955 (age 68)
Place of birth
Career information
National
Career history
As player
1979–1981
1982–1985
1987
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star
1982, 1984, 1985
Awards
Nick Arakgi (born August 9, 1955) is a former professional Canadian football star receiver in the Canadian Football League. In a nine-season career, Arakgi played for the Montreal Alouettes, Montreal Concordes, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers and made three All-Star teams.
Arakgi was born in Cairo, Egypt and graduated from Bishop's UniversityinSherbrooke, Quebec in 1978, where he played CIS football for the Bishop's Gaiters. In 1978, he was selected as the Gaiters' Most Valuable Player as well as receiving the Sid Hart Trophy as the top Male Athlete of the Year at Bishop's. He was inducted into the Bishop's University Wall of Distinction in 2004.[1]
He began a 7-year career with the Montreal Alouettes (and the Montreal Concordes) in 1979,[2][3] playing a total of 110 regular season games and the 67th Grey Cup game. He caught 327 passes in Montreal, with 89 of those coming in 1982. He was an all star in 1982, 1984, and 1985,[4] and added the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award in the 1984 CFL season.[2]
He suffered a broken neck bone in the 1986 preseason and did not play that year, but returned for the 1987 CFL season to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, catching 43 more passes and winning the Tom Pate Memorial Award in recognition of his comeback.[5]
Arakgi finished his football career with 370 receptions, 27 touchdowns, and 4,865 receiving yards.[5]
As of 2008[update], he was a general manager with CBS Outdoor Advertising, and served on the Board of Directors for the Out of Home Marketing Association. He resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Arakgi has three children (one of whom, Jason Arakgi, played for the BC Lions).[2]
