Harry Abofs

{{Short description|German gridiron football player (1948–1993)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{Infobox gridiron football person

| name = Harry Abofs

| team =

| image = Harry Abofs.png

| alt =

| caption = Abofs in 1971

| import =

| position1 = Halfback

| position2 = Defensive back

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|04|14}}

| birth_place = Germany

| death_date = {{Death date|1993|08|29}}

| death_place =

| number =

| college = Tennessee Tech

| high_school = Downsview HS

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lbs = 207

| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1971}}–{{CFL Year|1972}}

| playing_team1 = Toronto Argonauts

| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1972}}–{{CFL Year|1973}}

| playing_team2 = Edmonton Eskimos

| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|1973}}

| playing_team3 = BC Lions

| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|1974}}

| playing_team4 = Hamilton Tiger-Cats

| career_highlights =

| CFL =

}}

Harry Abofs (April 14, 1948 – August 29, 1993) was a Canadian football running back, defensive back, and return specialist for multiple Canadian Football League teams in the early 1970s. He played high school football at Downsview High School in Toronto. After playing college football for Tennessee Tech, Abofs went on to play for the Toronto Argonauts, the Edmonton Eskimos, the BC Lions, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Abofs found some success as a running back in his rookie year with Toronto, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, but is best known for his role in the 59th Grey Cup. In the fourth quarter of the game with the Argonauts down 14–11, Abofs received a punt from the Calgary Stampeders. In an effort to capture the wet ball, he accidentally kicked it out of bounds while reaching down. CFL rules state that when a ball is kicked out of bounds, possession goes to the opposing team, thus giving Calgary possession once again. Had Abofs knocked the ball out of bounds with his hand, Toronto would have had one last offensive series. Instead, Calgary ran out the clock and ultimately captured their first Grey Cup since 1948.{{cite news|last1=Maki|first1=Allan|title=Where are they now: The first family of Stampeders' football, the Forzani brothers|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/where-are-they-now-the-first-family-of-stampeders-football-the-forzani-brothers/article5542509/|access-date=14 April 2016|work=The Globe and Mail|date=November 21, 2012}}

Abofs was later converted to a defensive back by the Edmonton Eskimos. After making three interceptions with the Eskimos in 1973, he continued in this role until his retirement from the CFL.{{cite book|last1=Maher|first1=Tod|last2=Gill|first2=Bob|title=The Canadian Pro Football Encyclopedia: Every Player, Coach and Game, 1946–2012|date=2013|publisher=Maher Sports Media|isbn=978-0983513667|page=139}}

Abofs died by suicide on August 29, 1993.{{cite news|last1=Simmons|first1=Steve|title=Argos locate Mel Profit|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Simmons/2007/10/26/4607929-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505162717/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Simmons/2007/10/26/4607929-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 5, 2016|access-date=14 April 2016|work=canoe.com|date=October 26, 2007}}