Edward Joseph Albert Kotowich (May 31, 1934 – December 11, 1986) was a Canadian football player who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1958, 1959 and 1961. He died of a stroke in 1986, aged 52. He earned the nickname "The Mauler" for his ferocious play.

A Winnipeg product, Ed Kotowich came to the Bombers from the Winnipeg Rods junior program and spent seven years with the team, appearing in three Grey Cups and earning West All-Star honours in 1959. But it’s what he did after he retired that led to an award – the "Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award" for "football ability, team camaraderie, and extraordinary effort off the field" – being named in his honour.

During his playing career, it was entirely normal that players held down non-sports jobs in addition to playing. That nearly resulted in Ed not achieving some of his most memorable moments as a Blue Bomber. Just prior to the 1959 season, he announced his retirement from the game in order to ready himself for a promotion in his regular job and a possible transfer. As it turned out, he returned to play in 1959 and for a few more seasons thereafter. For his part in winning the 47th edition of the Grey Cup (in 1959!), Ed was named to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as part of that year's team.

When he finished playing, Kotowich returned to the Rods as an assistant coach and later worked with the minor football programs at Winakwa and Windsor Park. He also served as an alderman for the City of St. Boniface between 1968 (when he was elected by acclamation ) and 1977 while serving on a number of community boards including as Chairman of Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation, the St. Boniface Parks Board, the St. Boniface Museum, and Knights of Columbus.

During his time as a city councilor in the recently amalgamated Greater Winnipeg, in 1974, he was publicly upset that the provincial government of the day reneged on an apparent promise to provide financing to the Winnipeg Jets. Then, 1975 saw him involved in a public exchange with Ben Hatskin about the potential (or not) of a sale of the Winnipeg Arena to the newly arrived Winnipeg Jets of the then relatively newly-formed World Hockey Association.

He died in 1986 at the age of 52 after suffering a stroke.

He is recognized as a "Memorable Manitoban" by the Manitoba Historical Society and their biography elaborates many of his contributions that followed his football career.

He has a lot to say about the progression of professional football from the time he broke into it in the 1950s and the time he had retired and was coaching Junior ball. He decided he would not have made the grade.

Ed Kotowich "Good Guy" Award Winners Through the Years 

Awarded for the first time in 1987, and initially involving a separate bursary for young amateur players, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football Club now makes the award on an annual basis to a deserving member of the professional squad.

The winners have been:

 2021 - Adam Bighill
 2020 - Not Awarded (Season was cancelled for Public Health reasons; COVID-19)
 2019 - Thomas Miles
 2018 - Matthias Goosen (He was a CFL Players Association All-Star in 2017 and named to the CFL All-Star Team in 2018 )
 2017 - Jake Thomas
 2016 - Matthias Goosen (See notes for his repeat win in 2018)
2015 – Matt Bucknor 
2014 – Chris Greaves 
2013 – Hénoc Muamba (Active in 2019; 2013 CFL All-Star, 2013 & 2018 CFL East All-Star)
2012 – Chris Cvetkovic
2011 – Buck Pierce
2010 – Doug Brown
2009 – Jon Oosterhuis
2008 – Ibrahim “Obby” Khan 
2007 – Milt Stegall
2006 – Chris Cvetkovic
2005 – Milt Stegall
2004 – Matt Sheridan
2003 – Moe Elewonibi
2002 – Dave Mudge
2001 – Brett MacNeil
2000 – Troy Westwood
1999 – Dave Vankoughnett
1998 – Glen Scrivener
1997 – Wade Miller
1996 – Wade Miller
1995 – Miles Gorrell
1994 – Matt Pearce 
1993 – Matt Dunigan
1992 – Darryl Sampson
1991 – Matt Pearce 
1990 – Rod Hill
1989 – Perry Tuttle
1988 – Trevor Kennerd
1987 – Vernon Pahl and Tony Paukovic

References

1934 births
Players of Canadian football from Manitoba
Winnipeg Blue Bombers players
1986 deaths