Ranking and analyzing the ten Grey Cup return touchdowns, part II: the top five (videos)

The return game is getting a lot of attention ahead of this week's 102nd Grey Cup thanks to Hamilton returner Brandon Banks notching two spectacular punt return touchdowns (on returns of 93 and 88 yards) in the Tiger-Cats' East Final win over Montreal Sunday. However, it's notable that in over a century of Grey Cup games, there have been very few return touchdowns: the official CFL Grey Cup record book from 2011 lists just 10 (five kickoff return touchdowns, four punt return touchdowns, and one missed field goal return touchdown), and the 2011, 2012 and 2013 games haven't added to that total. Banks, who was named our First Star of the week, certainly has the talent to potentially add to that list (and we may be due; 10 touchdowns in 101 Grey Cups is about one every 10, and we haven't had one since 2005), but it's not easy to do; a lot of the big-game returns have been pretty special. Here are videos and analysis of the top five returns in Grey Cup history. Make sure to see our other post on this for a look at the other five touchdowns, which are also quite memorable.

5. Jimmy "Jet" Cunningham, 1996, Toronto Argonauts versus Edmonton Eskimos:

This 80-yard punt return from the 1996 Snow Bowl in Hamilton was crucial to the outcome, with Jimmy "Jet" Cunningham helping get the Argonauts back in the game. Toronto trailed 9-0 after the first quarter thanks to a conceded safety by Doug Flutie and an incredible 64-yard touchdown pass from Edmonton's Danny McManus to "Downtown" Eddie Brown, who kicked it up to his hands in what TSN named their top Grey Cup play ever in 2010. Mike Vanderjagt got the Argos on the board with a second-quarter field goal, though, and then Cunningham made sure Toronto would also be represented in the highlights with this beautiful return. He works his way right through a crowd of defenders with some amazing jinks and jukes at the start, keeps his footing on the snowy ground, stays inbounds and dives into the end zone.

4. Bill Hatanaka, 1976, Ottawa Rough Riders versus Saskatchewan Roughriders:

The 1976 game is remembered for a lot of things, from the great final Tom Clements to Tony Gabriel drive, to Gabriel's last-second catch in the end zone, to the all-Roughrider clash to this being the final Grey Cup Ottawa would win (at least up to this point). However, Hatanaka's remarkable return should get more attention. The York product (yes, a Canadian punt returner!)'s 79-yard return set a CFL punt return record at the time, and it was impressive from a number of standpoints. First, he fielded the punt at full speed, which is very tough to do. He then wriggled through a crowd of defenders, used his blocking perfectly, stayed inbounds on the very edge of the field, brilliantly juked a defender and then outran two more to the end zone. This is terrific technique and skill.

3. Henry "Gizmo" Williams, 1996, Edmonton Eskimos versus Toronto Argonauts: 

It's another highlight from that famous 1996 Snow Bowl, and it features maybe the best kick returner ever to play in the CFL. The 5'6'', 185-pound Williams shone for the Eskimos from 1986 to 2000 (albeit with a half-season with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1989) after a short USFL stint, and he still holds most of the CFL's return records. This 91-yard kickoff return is particularly special, coming late in the second quarter and giving Edmonton a 23-21 lead. The Eskimos would eventually fall 43-37, but Williams' return helped keep them in it. He shows tremendous return instincts here, blowing by a defender who expected him to cut out wide, then ducking towards the main pack of cover guys and then getting by them and out towards the right sideline. After that, it's all about his speed, which he uses to outrace kicker Mike Vanderjagt (who would have had a terrific angle on him if Williams wasn't so fast). This shows why Williams was so famed.

2. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, 1991, Toronto Argonauts versus Calgary Stampeders: 

The Rocket remains the only player the CFL's outbid the NFL for out of college in modern times, and he played a key role on that star-studded 1991 Argonauts team. On the day of the 79th Grey Cup in particular, he proved to be worth every penny the ownership group of Bruce McNall, Wayne Gretzky and John Candy spent on him, helping to seal the deal with this fourth-quarter 87-yard kickoff return that forestalled a Calgary comeback and extended the Argonauts' lead to 29-21. (They'd go on to win 36-21 after Matt Dunigan hit Paul Masiotti for another touchdown.) This one's somewhat unusual, as Ismail fields it on a bounce, but he gets up to full speed shortly thereafter. What's really impressive is the way he blows through a pack of players at full speed, then jukes to the right (0:08) to avoid another tackle while barely slowing down. Not many people can make a cut going that fast, but The Rocket could, and that helps to demonstrate why the Argos paid so much for him.

1. Henry "Gizmo" Williams, 1987, Edmonton Eskimos versus Toronto Argonauts:

Yes, the great Gizmo is the only man to make this list twice, and this return's even more special. It's the only missed field goal return for a touchdown in Grey Cup history, and it's also the longest return in Grey Cup history, clocking in at 115 yards. This return, which came in the first quarter, wound up producing a huge 10-point swing in a very close game. Toronto kicker Lance Chomyk missed from 47 yards, his second miss of the game, and Williams fielded the ball five yards deep in his own end zone, then took it from left to right. He shows off a great shake-and-bake move at 0:35, using his agility and quick cuts to make a tackler fly by, then powers to the outside, flies down the sideline, hurdles one of his own fallen teammates and illustrates his return instincts with a cut inside to beat Chomyk (who tackles him eventually, but only after he reaches the end zone). It's an incredible play, and the most complete return on this list. It's one that stands alone, and likely will for all time.

You can find analysis and videos (for three of the five return touchdowns) of plays 6-10 here.