Al Wilson

Al "Dirt" Wilson (born April 6, 1950) is a Canadian former professional football player for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Wilson spent his entire 15-year career with the Lions as an offensive lineman. Wilson played American college football at Montana State University. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame, and has a street named in his honor, "Al Wilson Grove," in his hometown of Duncan. Wilson's #52 jersey is one of eight numbers retired by the B.C. Lions. In 2003, Wilson was voted a member of the B.C. Lions All-Time Dream Team as part of the club's 50th anniversary celebration. In 2006, Wilson was voted to the Honour Roll of the CFL's top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

Early life and college Wilson attended Cowichan Secondary School in Duncan, British Columbia, where he played defensive end, offensive guard, and tight end for the football team. He went on to play college football at Montana State from 1968 to 1972, where he was the Bobcats' captain during his senior year.

Professional career Following his graduation from Montana State, Wilson joined the B.C. Lions in 1972. Playing offensive guard, and later, centre, Wilson rarely missed a Lions' game in his 15-year career with the team, finishing with 233 games (he is the second longest-playing Lion in team history behind teammate Lui Passaglia's 408 game record). During his career, Wilson played in 167 consecutive games until a knee injury ended his season in 1982.

In 1983, Wilson was a part of the Lions' 11–5 season that culminated in a Grey Cup matchup with the Toronto Argonauts. The Lions ultimately lost the game, 18–17. Two seasons later, in 1985, Wilson and the Lions returned to the Grey Cup championship game, where they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 37-24 for the Lions' second Grey Cup.

Wilson's play led to his selection as a Western Division and CFL All-Star for seven consecutive years (1975–1981).

He is married to former curler Robin Wilson.