Daniel Kepley (born August 24, 1953) is a former star linebacker for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Dan Kepley
No. 42
Born: (1953-08-24) August 24, 1953 (age 71)
Albemarle, North Carolina, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)LB
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight220 lb (100 kg)
CollegeEast Carolina
Career history
As coach
1985Edmonton Eskimos (Def. Assistant)
20022005Edmonton Eskimos (Def. Assistant/DL coach)
20062010Edmonton Eskimos (LB coach)
As player
19751984Edmonton Eskimos
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star19771981
CFL West All-Star19771981
Awards1977 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
1977 Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
1980 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
1980 Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
1981 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player
1981 Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy
Honors1987 - Edmonton Eskimos Wall of Honour
Career stats

Kepley played college football at East Carolina University. He tried out with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys before starting a 10-year career with the Eskimos from 1975 to 1984.

He was an intense player and hard tackler. Teamed with fellow linebackers Dale Potter and Tom Towns for 8 seasons, this trio formed the backbone of a defence that played in 7 Grey Cup games, winning six championships. Kepley won 3 CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Awards and was an All Star 5 times.

Following retirement, Kepley spent the 1985 season as an assistant coach with the Eskimos. He began a real estate career, worked as a football analyst on both radio (CFRN) and television (CBC, ESPN), and from 2002 to 2010 was an assistant coach with the Eskimos. Kepley has struggled with alcoholism and in 2000 spent time in jail for impaired driving, his fifth such offence.[1]

Kepley was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and in 2006 was named one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#11) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network/TSN.

References

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  1. ^ Back in football heaven - Despite defeat, Dan Kepley is thankful to be part of the game again, Perry Lefko, Toronto Sun, Nov. 25, 2002.