Ex-CFL, NFL QB Joe Kapp dies at 85 after reportedly battling dementia for years

Joe Kapp was larger than life, on and off the football field.

The fiery quarterback led the B.C. Lions to their first Grey Cup title, then made global headlines more than 45 years later when he came to blows with fellow Hall of Famer Angelo Mosco. Kapp died Monday night at the age of 85.

The Lions confirmed Kapp's passing. The cause of death wasn't immediately divulged but Kapp told the San Jose Mercury News in 2016 he had Alzheimer's disease and was donating his brain for concussion research.

There were reports he also battled dementia for over a decade.

"Joe Kapp will go down as one of the all-time great players for not only our franchise but the entire Canadian Football League," Neil McEvoy, the Lions co-general manager/director of football operations, said in a statement. "Along with helping put the Lions on the map after some lean early years, Joe also served as a trailblazer for quarterbacks making a name for themselves on both sides of the border.

"Our thoughts are with Joe's wife Jennifer and the entire family at this time."

The six-foot-two, 215-pound Kapp played eight CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (1959-60) and B.C. (1961-1966) before also serving as the Lions GM (1990). He completed 1,476 of 2,709 passes (54.5 per cent) in Canada for 22,725 yards with 136 touchdowns and 129 interceptions.

Kapp, a native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, also ran for 2,784 yards on 579 carries (4.8-yard average) and five TDs. Kapp led B.C. to a Grey Cup appearance in 1963 and the franchise's first league title the following season.

Kapp was definitely a throwback in Canada as instead of avoiding contact, Kapp seemingly went looking for it. And when he found it, rather than run out of bounds the rugged Kapp would lower his