David Thelen (born September 2, 1936)[1] is a former Canadian Football League (CFL) running back for the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Toronto Argonauts.
Dave Thelen played semi-pro baseball and was drafted by the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and by the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League before joining the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League in 1958.
[2][3] [4] During his 9-year career, Thelen rushed for 8,463 yards on 1,530 carries and scored 47 touchdowns.
He was the CFL’s leading rusher in 1960 with 1407 yards (5.7 yards/rush) and the eastern conference leader in 1959 and 1965.
In 1965, Thelen was replaced by Bo Scott and traded to the Toronto Argonauts, playing his final two years with them.