Chris Skinner was born in 1961 in Saint John, the son of community activist and educator, Clifford ‘Nick’ Skinner. Skinner became a professional football player and was a star running back and receiver.
His love for football began when he was in school and played with the Simonds High School Seebees in Saint John. Then he played at UNB until the sport was dropped. Skinner had a standout varsity career at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec, winning All-Star and MVP honours.
The Edmonton Eskimos selected Skinner during the first round of the 1984 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft. After an exceptional season in 1986, Skinner was nominated for the annual CFL Schenley Award, recognizing the most outstanding player in the league. He and the Eskimos went on to win the Grey Cup CFL Championship in 1987.
Chris Skinner was inducted into the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. Known for his tenacity and hard work, in the words of one reporter, Skinner is “the best football player ever developed in New Brunswick.”
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