Mervyn Fernandez

Class of 2019

Mervyn Fernandez joined the British Columbia Lions in 1982 after he finished his collegiate career with San Jose State.

Swervin’ Mervyn made an impact in his first season, he was the 1982 Western Rookie of the Year, winning the Jackie Parker Trophy, and was runner-up for the League Award to quarterback Chris Issac from Ottawa. Fernandez became the first Lion to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award in 1985, that season he had 95 catches and 1,727 yards for an 18.2 yards per reception average, along with 15 touchdowns.

He was recognized as a CFL All-Star in 1984 and 1985, was a Western All-Star four straight seasons from 1982 to 1985 (with 1,000 yards receiving each year) and won Grey Cups with the Lions in 1985 and 1994.

Fernandez, from Merced, California, spent all six seasons of his CFL career with the Lions, playing from 1982 to 1986, before returning for the 1994 season, after playing from 1987 to 1992 with the Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League.

He made the most of his six seasons with the Lions, recording regular season career totals of 399 receptions, 6,690 receiving yards, an average of 16.8 yards per catch and 58 touchdown catches. Fernandez also had 12 rushes for 103 yards, an average of 8.6 yards per carry, which coupled with his receiving numbers gave him 6,793 yards from scrimmage.

In total, Fernandez played 83 regular season games and seven more in the playoffs, winning two Grey Cups (1985, 1994) and participating in one other with the Lions (1983). He led the CFL in receiving yards in 1984 and 1985 with 1,486 and 1,727 yards respectively. Through the end of the 2017 season, Fernandez average receiving yards total of 1,115 yards per season ranks eighth all-time.

In 2003, Fernandez was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the wide receiver position, as part of the club’s 50-year anniversary celebration. Fernandez was voted one of the CFL’s Top 50 players (#42) of the league’s modern era by Canadian sports network The Sports Network.

Playing Career

B.C Lions
1982-1986, 1994

Career

Awards/Honours

  • CFL Western All-Star
    1982-1985
  • CFL All-Star
    1984-1985
  • CFL Most Outstanding Player
    1985
  • Grey Cup Game Participation
    1983,1985,1994
  • Grey Cup Winning Teams
    1985, 1994