Article content

Rod Woodward, a retired CFL East all-star defensive back and former head football coach at Simon Fraser University, died Tuesday at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock of complications from a fall.

Woodward, who turned 72 last Thursday, had been diagnosed with dementia and was part of a class-action lawsuit against the Canadian Football League. He was represented in the suit by his wife, Kay, who had power of attorney. The suit, which involves 200 ex-players, contends that the CFL and other defendants, including former commissioner Mark Cohon, withheld information about brain trauma in football that can lead to long-term cognitive problems.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Former CFL all-star, Clan coach Rod Woodward succumbs to fall Back to video

A native of Burnaby, Woodward played junior football for the Renfrew Trojans and suited up 138 games in the CFL, from 1967-1978, with the Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Rough Riders, Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He intercepted 39 passes in his career and was three times a CFL East Division all-star. Woodward was a member of Ottawa’s last Grey Cup champion team, in 1976, but he was unable to attend a 40-year reunion this summer because of his medical condition.

After retiring as a player, Woodward was briefly head of the B.C. Amateur Football Association before moving on to Simon Fraser, where he was coach of the Clan for three seasons.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be determined.

mbeamish@postmedia.com

twitter.com/sixbeamers