Canadian football icon Russ Jackson’s name will live on at the new William Connell Park.

City staff have proposed to honour the Hamilton native by naming the football field the Russ Jackson Football Field. Phase 1 of redeveloping the 20-hectare parcel of land on West 5th between Stone Church Road West and Rymal Road began this spring, and is scheduled to be completed in December.

The city’s facilities naming committee had been scheduled to approve naming the park on July 20, but not enough councillors attended the meeting to vote on the recommendation. Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr suggested staff send a report to the August general issues committee so councillors can approve the recommendation.

Jackson, who turns 81 on July 28, was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders and led the Canadian Football League team to three Grey Cup-winning seasons, including one in which he was named Grey Cup MVP. In 12 seasons with Ottawa he was named an all-star nine times and was the CFL’s most valuable player three times. In 1969, the year he retired as a player, he received the Lou Marsh Trophy. He coached the Toronto Argonauts from 1975-76.

During his playing days he was called the “Y.A. Tittle of the North” after the NFL great who played for the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants and Baltimore Colts.

Jackson has been called the best Canadian football player to ever play in the CFL. In 2006, he was voted eighth on TSN's list of the CFL’s top 50 players, the highest ranked Canadian.

Jackson is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, McMaster’s Hall of Fame and the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. He was named to the Order of Canada and he was recently inducted into the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.

Jackson attended Westdale Collegiate and starred at McMaster University. During and after his playing days he was a high school teacher and principal. After his retirement, he relocated to Hamilton where he is an active volunteer.

The $3.7-million redevelopment of William Connell Park includes new lighted football and soccer fields, multi-purpose court, tennis courts, splash pad, play structure, field house with washrooms and change rooms, and natural trails.