Background
Wilson was born in 1890 in Lifford, Ontario, Canada. His father, James Wilson, was born in Canada to Irish immigrants.
Wilson was born in 1890 in Lifford, Ontario, Canada. His father, James Wilson, was born in Canada to Irish immigrants.
Wilson moved to Detroit as a young boy and attended Detroit"s Western High School.
He was the quarterback for the 1920 Detroit Heralds during the first regular season of the National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association). He was one of the first Canadian-born players, and the first Canadian-born quarterback, to play in the NFL.
His mother, Anna, was also born in Canada. By 1917, Wilson had become a naturalized United States citizen and was employed in the milk and creamery business in Detroit.
In 1920, he played for the Detroit Heralds during the first regular season of the National Football League (then known as the American Professional Football Association).
The Heralds opened their season with a game against the Cleveland Panthers, played at Navin Field on October 10, 1920. Two weeks later, Wilson appeared in the Heralds" game against the Columbus Panhandles as a substitute at the quarterback position.
On November 28, 1920, he played at the left halfback position for the Heralds. Wilson was one of the first Canadian-born players, and the first Canadian-born quarterback, to play in the NFL. The other three Canadian-born players to play in the NFL during its inaugural 1920 season were Buck MacDonald, a guard, Tommy Hughitt, a halfback, and Jim Bryant, a halfback.
Wilson died in 1936 at age 46.