There are unlikely heroes in sports. You can add Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle high up on the list.
The Argos quarterback Chad Kelly shattered his ankle in a semifinal meaning it was up to Arbuckle on Sunday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup.
Despite having beaten Winnipeg twice since July 27 — the Bombers’ lone two losses since that date — Toronto came in a double-digit underdog.
Nobody told Arbuckle, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns as Toronto won the CFL championship, 41-24. He was named Grey Cup MVP.
Why was Arbuckle such an unlikely hero?
Arbuckle, 31, had started 25 games in his CFL career.
He had thrown only 1,017 regular-season passes, with 27 touchdowns and 32 interceptions, and produced an 87.0 quarterback rating over stops with Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa again, and Toronto again. He didn’t have a contract before this season and was only signed by the Argos when Kelly was suspended for half the season.
Before the Grey Cup, Arbuckle had started one playoff game … in high school.
He was a backup and played tight end that year. His chance came in the playoffs and his team lost.
“I remember that a lot,” Arbuckle told the Star.
He will remember the 2024 Grey Cup a lot more.
The moment the Argos became 2024 Grey Cup champions! #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/C6zC4BbGFv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 18, 2024
An Argonauts hero! Nick Arbuckle talks to Matthew Scianitti following an underdog victory in the #GreyCup pic.twitter.com/zTJyq3R9eT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) November 18, 2024
