Steve Kearns

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Steve Kearns
No. 34
Positions Slotback  • Tight end
Personal information
Born (1956-11-23) November 23, 1956 (age 68)
São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Wexford (Scarborough, Ontario)
College Liberty Baptist
CFL draft 1980
Career history
1980–1982 BC Lions
1982–1985 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Awards and highlights

Steve Kearns (born November 23, 1956) is a Canadian former professional football slotback who played six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. [1] [2] He was a territorial exemption of the Lions in the 1980 CFL draft. He played college football at Liberty Baptist College.

Contents

Early life

Kearns was born in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil and played soccer as a youth. [1] His family moved back to Canada so Steve and his brother Dan could attend Wexford High school. [1] They first played Canadian football in Grade 11. [1]

College career

Kearns played college football for the Liberty Baptist Flames of Liberty Baptist College from 1976 to 1979. [1] He enrolled at Liberty as a defensive end but switched to tight end and wide receiver. [3] He earned Churchmen’s second-team All-American honors in 1978. [3] Kearns set school career records in receiving yards with 1,210 and touchdown receptions with 10. [3] He was inducted into Liberty's athletics hall of fame in 2016. [3]

Professional career

Kearns was selected by the BC Lions as a territorial exemption in the 1980 CFL draft. [4] He was the first Liberty player ever selected in a professional football draft. [5] He played in 25 games for the Lions from 1980 to 1982. [6] [2] [7] [8] He was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and played in 30 games for the team from 1982 to 1985. Kearns retired after the 1985 season. [1] [6]

Personal life

Kearns has worked as a chaplain for professional athletes with Athletes in Action after his playing career. [1] He has been a chaplain for the Toronto Raptors, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC. His wife, Georgie, whom he met at Liberty Baptist College, has also worked with Athletes in Action. [1] [9]

Kearns' twin brother Dan also played in the CFL. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 O'Connor, Joe (October 25, 2005). "First and God". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "1980 British Columbia Lions". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME – CLASS OF 2016". Liberty University . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Draft Tracker". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ Coach, Jacob (May 26, 2020). "Liberty's first football player to turn pro reaches Canada's sporting realm for Christ". Liberty University . Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Steve Kearns". StatsCrew.com. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  7. ↑ "1981 British Columbia Lions". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  8. ↑ "1982 British Columbia Lions". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Liberty Football Feature: Steve Kearns". newsadvance.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
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