Note: Prior to 1973 the runner up for this award was not the
Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy or
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winners. Finalists were first announced in 1953 and during the first years there were multiple runners-up. •
1972 –
Mack Herron (RB),
Winnipeg Blue Bombers •
1971 –
Leon McQuay (RB),
Toronto Argonauts •
1970 –
Tommy Joe Coffey (WR),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats •
1969 –
George Reed (RB),
Saskatchewan Roughriders •
1968 –
George Reed (RB),
Saskatchewan Roughriders •
1967 –
Tommy Joe Coffey (WR),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats •
1966 –
Ron Lancaster (QB),
Saskatchewan Roughriders •
1965 –
Garney Henley (DB),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats •
1964 –
Dick Shatto (RB),
Toronto Argonauts •
1963 –
Joe Kapp (QB),
BC Lions •
1962 –
Tommy Joe Coffey (WR),
Edmonton Eskimos •
1961 –
Jackie Parker (QB),
Edmonton Eskimos •
1960 –
Cookie Gilchrist (RB),
Toronto Argonauts •
1959 –
Bernie Faloney (QB),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats •
1958 –
Dick Shatto (RB),
Toronto Argonauts •
1957 –
Hal Patterson (OE/DB),
Montreal Alouettes •
1956 –
Jackie Parker (QB),
Edmonton Eskimos •
1955 –
Jackie Parker,
Edmonton;
Dick Shatto,
Toronto;
Ken Carpenter,
Saskatchewan •
1954 –
Rollie Miles,
Edmonton and
Alex Webster,
Montreal •
1953 –
Tex Coulter,
Montreal;
John Henry Johnson,
Calgary,
Gene Roberts,
Ottawa ==All-time records==