Don Narcisse

Don Narcisse
No. 80
Born: (1965-02-26) February 26, 1965 (age 59)
Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)WR
CollegeTexas Southern
Career history
As coach
2000San Antonio Matadors (SFL)
As player
19871999Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1989, 1990, 1995, 1998
CFL West All-Star1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998
Career stats

Donald Narcisse (born February 26, 1965) is a former wide receiver for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Texas Southern University. He signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent on September 1, 1987.

A smaller player at 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) and 170 pounds (77 kg), Narcisse was effective at short-yardage plays, often in situations needing a first down. As a result of rarely being injured and giving strong on-field performances, Narcisse shared and held a few records. He had over 1,000 receiving yards for seven consecutive seasons from 1989 to 1995 including a career-high 1419 yards in 1989. Despite this consistency, the Roughriders were frequently an average team in the middle or bottom half of the standings. He played alongside Ray Elgaard and Jeff Fairholm, who combined to be a top group of receivers, among the best in the league.

At the time of his retirement, he was first all-time in career receptions, third in career receiving yards and tied for first with eight seasons with more than 1000 yards. Narcisse holds the professional football record for most consecutive games with at least one reception in every game (216). He is considered one of the greatest players in Roughriders history and one of the league's greatest receivers.

Narcisse was a popular and respected man due to his positive and warm nature towards fans, players and media. His community involvement became much appreciated throughout his career. His most well-known contribution was the "Catch For Kids" program with SaskEnergy on behalf of Kidsport Saskatchewan which began in 1998. The program has evolved to include a charity Saskatchewan Roughrider player calendar, as well as charity bowling event which today raises more than $100,000 annually for Kidsport. That same season, the Leader Post newspaper ranked him as No. 7 on their list of 50 greatest Roughrider players. He won a Grey Cup with the Riders in 1989 and reached the finals again in 1997. After spending his entire career with the Roughriders, Narcisse retired at the conclusion of the 1999 season.

In 2000, Narcisse coached for the San Antonio Matadors of the Spring Football League.

In 2003, Narcisse was voted into the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour. Three years later in 2006, Narcisse was among 185 players nominated for The TSN/CFL 50 Greatest Players list. He was not voted into the top 50. He was among the 135 players Honour Roll of those who didn't make the list. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

CFL

13 seasons: 1987–1999

Regular-season stats

  • 216 games, 919 receptions, 75 touchdowns, 12,366 yards
  • 8 – more than 1,000 yard seasons, 2 – more than 900 yards seasons
  • 34 – more than 100 yard games
  • Led CFL in receptions (123) – 1995

Playoffs stats

  • Grey Cup: 2 games, 12 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD
  • Overall: 9 games, 41 receptions, 560 yards, 2 TD

Awards & Honors

  • Grey Cups – won > 1989, lost > 1997
  • CFL All-Star: 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998
  • Division All-Star: 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1998
  • Roughriders nominee for Most Outstanding CFL Player in 1995
  • Molson Cup – Roughriders Most Popular Player – 1994, 1995, 1998

Records

  • 1st – (11) – Most seasons with pass reception in all games
  • 1st – (216) – Most consecutive games with pass receptions, regular season
  • 2nd – (216) – Most games with pass receptions, regular season
  • Tied 2nd – (15) Most pass receptions in a regular-season game
  • 3rd – (123) Most pass receptions in a regular season
  • 3rd – (7) – Most consecutive more than 1,000 pass receiving yard seasons
  • 4th – (919) – Most pass receptions, all-time regular season

U.S. college

  • In senior season at Texas Southern > 88 receptions, 1,074 yards
  • 1986 NCAA Division I-AA receiving crown
  • Named First-Team NCAA Division I All-American, All-Southwest Conference
CFL career statistics
Year Rec Yrd Avg Lg TD
1987 25 319 12.8 43 1
1988 21 288 13.7 22 0
1989 81 1419 17.5 74 11
1990 86 1129 13.1 47 9
1991 76 1043 13.7 59 7
1992 80 1034 12.9 65 7
1993 83 1171 14.1 44 9
1994 72 1004 13.9 40 8
1995 123 1288 10.5 40 8
1996 66 906 13.7 77 4
1997 64 950 14.8 47 5
1998 95 1215 12.8 44 7
1999 47 600 12.8 31 1
Total 919 12366 13.5 77 75