Rick Galbos

Rick Galbos was an American professional football player whose talent, toughness, and team-first spirit took him from the fields of Mentor, Ohio, to Grey Cup glory in the Canadian Football League. Born on July 21, 1951, he was a natural athlete from the start — excelling in football, track, and swimming at Mentor High School, where, as a senior quarterback, he passed and rushed for 900 yards and led the team to an undefeated season and the number-two ranking in the state of Ohio. His excellence carried him to Ohio State University, where he played four seasons for the Buckeyes. In 1970, he was part of the co-national championship squad, and by his senior year he had earned the honor of team captain — a testament to his character as much as his play. He finished his collegiate career with 859 rushing yards, 197 carries, four touchdowns, and 21 receptions for 293 additional yards. Selected in the ninth round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, Galbos chose to chart his own course and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. He was soon traded to the Calgary Stampeders, where he would spend five defining seasons wearing No. 21 for the Red and White. Standing six feet one inch and weighing 205 pounds, he was known above all for his blocking — a selfless role he executed brilliantly as the lead blocker for Canadian Football Hall of Famer Willie Burden. Over his time in Calgary, he compiled 277 rushes for 1,244 yards and 172 receptions for 2,016 yards, demonstrating a rare versatility as both a runner and a receiver. In 1977, traded to the Montreal Alouettes, Galbos achieved the pinnacle of Canadian football: a Grey Cup championship. It was a fitting reward for a career defined by hard work and quiet excellence. After hanging up his cleats, Galbos remained deeply tied to the game and to Canada. He built a career in the construction industry and gave back to the sport he loved as an assistant coach with the University of Calgary Dinos. He was a proud and active member of the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Association, keeping the bonds of his playing days alive. In 2016, he was inducted into the News-Herald High School Sports Hall of Fame, a recognition of a journey that began on the fields of northeast Ohio and stretched across a lifetime of sport. Rick Galbos passed away on August 8, 2026, at the age of 75. He is remembered as a consummate team player, a devoted mentor, and a man who gave everything he had to every team he ever wore.