Russ Jackson turned 90 on July 28th!
We want to send our best wishes to Russ on his milestone birthday. To our members, he represents the very best of what it means to wear Ottawa’s colours. His leadership, humility, excellence, and deep commitment to the game are important to us all.
The CFL Ottawa Alumni Association posted on Facebook a simple birthday message and a birthday party picture that was shared by his family. It was certainly a big day for our legendary quarterback, but the feedback to that post was absolutely amazing. Within hours, the post surged far beyond our usual audience, becoming the most viewed post our association has ever shared. What began as a simple birthday wish quickly became a reminder of how deeply Russ Jackson’s legacy continues to resonate across Ottawa, the CFL, and all of Canada.
The numbers tell the story clearly. For context, a typical post on our page, with just over 700 followers, may receive 50 reactions, a handful of comments, 1 or 2 shares and a few hundred views. Russ’s birthday post generated 9,600 reactions, 1,200 comments, 432 shares and more than 300,000 views! This is an extraordinary level of engagement for any community organization, let alone an alumni association. The response was immediate and emotional. Fans, former players, and Canadians from coast to coast joined in to celebrate Russ’s impact far beyond his three Grey Cups and Hall of Fame status.
What stood out most was the tone of the comments. Alumni shared memories of playing with or against Russ, fans recalled watching him lead the Rough Riders to Grey Cup championships, and younger fans expressed admiration for a figure they know only through stories passed down by parents and grandparents. The post’s comment section became a place where generations came together to honour his excellence on and off the field.
For our alumni, the reaction tells us something we already knew. Russ Jackson is more than a football hero. He is a symbol of Ottawa’s football identity, a reminder of the pride, discipline, and camaraderie that shaped every team in our CFL football history. His name still carries weight, still sparks conversation, and still brings people together. The outpouring of affection showed that his legacy is strong at 90!
Russ Jackson’s 90th birthday post proves his legacy is strong and continues to unite alumni, fans, and Canadians in pride for the remarkable history of football in Ottawa. It also reminds us the CFL Ottawa Alumni Association exists to bring players, alumni, and fans together to share our common love of this great game.
If you’re a member of Facebook, you can see the post and all the comments using this link:
