Brian Fryer

Football Athlete - Special Legends Class of 2025

Born in Edmonton, Brian has spent his career playing, supporting and building amateur football. A three-sport athlete at Strathcona High School, he excelled at track and field at the 1971 Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Provincial Track and Field meet.  He established Provincial records in the 120 yd hurdles, long jump and triple jump (held for 20 Years). Brian was inducted to the Alberta Schools' Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2008.  

   At the post-secondary level, he played one year for the 1971 Alberta Champion Junior Edmonton Huskies and four seasons for the University of Alberta Golden Bears, wining a Vanier Cup in 1972. He was named a CIAU All-Canadian in 1974 and 1975. He received the Hec Creighton Trophy as the Most Valuable Canadian Varsity Football Player in 1975. He was awarded the Wilson Challenge Trophy as the Most Outstanding male Athlete at the University of Alberta in 1976. He was elected to the University of Alberta Sports Wall of Fame in 1983.

   Fryer is a five-time Grey Cup Champion with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 and one of four Alberta born players to play with all five championship teams. Prior to joining the Eskimos, he spent two seasons with the Washington Redskins who selected him in the 1976 NFL Draft. It was the first time a player out of a Canadian University was chosen and to make it as a rookie. After ending his CFL career with the Ottawa Rough-Riders and the Eskimos(1985), he took the position as Executive Director for Football Alberta (1986-2021) and going part time as Chief Financial Officer (2021+), helping to build one of the best Provincial Football Associations in the country.

   In addition, for the last two decades, Brian has served as a board member of the Edmonton Eskimo (Elks) Alumni Football Association.  The EEAA Alumni’s mission is run on the principles of football, fellowship and community service while supporting over a million dollars for charities and amateur football programs/scholarships in central/northern Alberta.
 
   Brian was named to the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 2005,  the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Canada West Hall of Fame in 2019 and is honored to receive this additional recognition from the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.