John Wydareny

John Wydareny (born February 15, 1941) is a former professional Canadian football player in the Canadian Football League. Wydareny patrolled the defensive backfield for ten years in the CFL, three with the Toronto Argonauts (1963-65) and six with the Edmonton Eskimos from (1966 to 1972). During that time, Wydareny proved himself to be one of the best safeties in the game, recording 52 career interceptions and three times leading the West in interceptions. Wydareny started his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 1963 and in three seasons recorded a total of eight interceptions, while also seeing action on punt returns with the Argos. Wydareny went to Edmonton in 1966, recording another three interceptions in his first season with the Eskimoes. Wydareny's career then really started to hit its peak in 1967 with six interceptions to tie for the division lead. 1967 also saw Wydareny win his first of three West All-Star honours. In 1968, Wydareny increased his interception total to a new career high of seven, though that was only good for second best in the West. Wydareny then shattered his best season mark in 1969, and matched it again in 1971 with eleven interceptions in each season. That kind of achievement couldn't be ignored, and Wydareny won both West and CFL All-Stars in the 1969 and 1970 CFL seasons. In addition, Wydareny was the Edmonton nominee for Outstanding Canadian in 1969. Wydareny added another six interceptions in 1971, before retiring in 1972. Unfortunately for Wydareny, his career ended just as Edmonton was beginning to ramp up for future championships after a decade of struggling, so there were not Grey Cup appearances.^[1]

He played college football at the University of Western Ontario.

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