CFL Hall of Famer Cal Murphy dies at 79

TORONTO – Cal Murphy, a nine-time Grey Cup champion and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, has died. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a team Murphy served as coach and general manager. He died Saturday night in a hospital in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he had been since breaking ribs in a fall earlier this month. Murphy had heart attacks in 1978 and 1985 before undergoing a heart transplant in 1992.

Murphy spent more than 30 years in the CFL as a coach and GM. During a 14-year stint as the Bombers' coach and GM the club made five Grey Cup appearances. Since 2000 had been evaluating talent for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts.

Murphy is second in career wins for the Bombers history with a record of 86-51-1. He was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2004.