Former Canadian Football League Great Passes Away

Former Montreal Alouettes quarterback Sam Etcheverry died Saturday following a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was 79. Etcheverry, who spent the majority of his career with the Alouettes, was one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the CFL during the 1950s. Nicknamed "The Rifle," he led Montreal to three straight Grey Cup appearances and was named the league's top quarterback in 1954. Two years later, he became the first quarterback in league history to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season.

The Alouettes announced Etcheverry's death in a press release.