Al Brenner
Encyclopedia
Allen Ray Brenner was a football player in the Canadian Football League
for seven years.
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
and Ottawa Rough Riders
from 1971-1977. He was a CFL All-Star in 1972, the same year he set a record of most interceptions in a season at 15, and also won the Grey Cup
with the Tiger-Cats. He was also part of the Ottawa Rough Riders when they won the Grey Cup in 1976. Brenner started his career with the New York Giants
of the NFL, for whom he played two seasons. He played college football at Michigan State University
where he was an All-American in 1968. Al Brenner was also the Head Coach of The Burlington Braves Junior Football Team in 1980. A member of the Ontario Football Conference.
While playing in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats he intercepted Joe Theismann
4 times in one game. Brenner also was part of "The Game of the Century", where both Michigan State and Notre Dame were ranked number 1 in the country and went to a 10-10 tie in 1966.
. Brenner is featured in a Fifth Estate program on Dec 3, 2010 which discusses his disappearance and subsequent resurfacing eight years after abandoning his family. He is interviewed living in an unnamed small town in North Carolina
and says he cannot explain why he left.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
for seven years.
Football career
Brenner played defensive backDefensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
and Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
from 1971-1977. He was a CFL All-Star in 1972, the same year he set a record of most interceptions in a season at 15, and also won the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
with the Tiger-Cats. He was also part of the Ottawa Rough Riders when they won the Grey Cup in 1976. Brenner started his career with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL, for whom he played two seasons. He played college football at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
where he was an All-American in 1968. Al Brenner was also the Head Coach of The Burlington Braves Junior Football Team in 1980. A member of the Ontario Football Conference.
While playing in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats he intercepted Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
4 times in one game. Brenner also was part of "The Game of the Century", where both Michigan State and Notre Dame were ranked number 1 in the country and went to a 10-10 tie in 1966.
Disappearance
Brenner was reported missing in April 1983. He, his wife, and four children were residents of Burlington, OntarioBurlington, Ontario
Burlington , is a city located in Halton Region at the western end of Lake Ontario. Burlington is part of the Greater Toronto Area, and is also included in the Hamilton Census Metropolitan Area. Physically, Burlington lies between the north shore of Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment...
. Brenner is featured in a Fifth Estate program on Dec 3, 2010 which discusses his disappearance and subsequent resurfacing eight years after abandoning his family. He is interviewed living in an unnamed small town in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and says he cannot explain why he left.