Duane Taquan Forde (born May 8, 1969) is a Canadian television broadcaster for TSN and a former player in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Duane Forde
Born: (1969-05-08) May 8, 1969 (age 55)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Career information
CFL statusNational
Position(s)FB
CollegeWestern Ontario
CFL draft1991, round: 1, pick: 6
Drafted byCalgary Stampeders
Career history
As player
1991–1992Calgary Stampeders
1993Winnipeg Blue Bombers
1994–1995Toronto Argonauts
1996–2000Calgary Stampeders
2001–2002Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Career highlights and awards
  • Grey Cup champion (1992, 1998)
  • Vanier Cup champion (1989, also team captain)
  • 2003 Silver Cup Final Champion
  • 2003 Silver Cup Final MVP
  • Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame

Career

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College football

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Born in Toronto, Forde attended the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Physical Education. While studying at Western, Forde played CIAU football for the Western Ontario Mustangs from 1987 to 1990. While he was at UWO, the Mustangs lost just once in the regular season, and they won the 1989 Vanier Cup. Selected two times as the Mustangs' Most Valuable Player, Forde co-captained the 1989 team.[1]

Forde played twelve seasons for the Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Forde, who spent four years as the team captain of the Stampeders, had a consecutive games played streak of 150, counting regular season and postseason games, over an eight-season period.[1] Forde's teams reached the Grey Cup on five occasions (1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, and 1999), winning twice (1992 and 1998).[2]

Broadcasting

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In 2008, Forde joined TSN as a game analyst for their CFL on TSN broadcasts.[2] Forde serves as the secondary commentator, calling games with play by play announcer Rod Black, and later with Rod Smith.[3] Forde was also an analyst for TSN.ca's coverage of the 2008 CFL Draft. He also contributes regularly to TSN's Sportscentre and writes a weekly column for TSN.ca.[2] Before joining TSN, Forde served as a commentator for The Score's CIS football telecasts from 2006 to 2007 and was a CFL analyst for Rogers Sportsnet from 2003 to 2005. He has been known as the premier Canadian College Draft expert and occasionally referred to by media members as the Mel Kiper Jr. of the CFL.[4][5]

Since 2010, Forde has run the National Invitational Combine during the same week that the CFL holds its own evaluation camp.[6]

Forde is a member of the Mississauga Sports Hall of Fame.[7]

Personal life

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He is married to sports journalist Sheri Forde.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Duane Forde Joins TSN" (Press release). The Sports Network. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  2. ^ a b c "Duane Ford". TSN.ca.
  3. ^ Djukic, Marija (June 18, 2008). "TSN set to air entire CFL package". mediaincanada.com.
  4. ^ Bostrom, Don (April 21, 2006). "Lafayette's Brown will be playing for the Eskimos ** Edmonton selects him in the fourth round of the CFL draft". The Morning Call.
  5. ^ Beamish, Mike (May 2, 2009). "CFL draft goes live but will it hit a homer?". National Post.
  6. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (March 2, 2012). "Duane Forde talks about his National Invitational Combine, the CIS game and Canadian talent". Yahoo! Sports.
  7. ^ "50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Duane Forde, Western Ontario (1989)". presto-en.usports.ca.
  8. ^ Lefko, Perry (March 12, 2018). "Duane Forde gives back to community by coaching kids". Peel Region Review.