Andy Fantuz at football clinic at Chatham-Kent Secondary School. August 22,2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent) Andy Fantuz at football clinic at Chatham-Kent Secondary School. August 22,2017. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent)
Chatham

Hometown Hero Calls It A Career

One of the most accomplished athletes to ever come out of Chatham is hanging up his cleats.

Andy Fantuz announced his retirement from pro-football Thursday.

After suffering a serious knee injury that cut his season short last year, the 34-year-old went unsigned in 2018 and decided to call in quits after 12 seasons in the CFL, according to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats website.

Arguably one of the best Canadian receivers the league has ever seen, Fantuz certainly created quite the legacy in the CFL totaling 637 receptions for 8,363 yards and 44 touchdowns. All-time he ranks 18th in receptions and 33rd receiving yards putting him fourth and ninth among Canadians in those categories.

His 12 seasons were split between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He he appeared in five Grey Cups, winning one and taking home the honour of Most Valuable Canadian in two. In 2010 Fantuz won the award for the league's Most Outstanding Canadian for the regular season.

Fantuz was drafted third overall in the 2006 draft by the Roughriders after an exceptional career at Western University. He broke multiple records including career receiving yards (4,123), single-season receiving yards (1,300 in 2002), career receptions (189) and career touchdown receptions (41). In 2005 he won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top CIS player of the year.

Fantuz issued a statement thanking the CFL, his teammates, his family and of course his fans.

“Thank you ALL! It has been an honour to represent the Tiger-Cats and Roughriders organizations, both on and off the field, for the past 12 years. The support from these two communities, and incredible reception I felt from all CFL cities, is what makes this game so special. I will keep you all in my heart forever. I want to thank my family and friends for their unconditional support. I want to thank my coaches, trainers, equipment staff, front office, support staff, media and volunteers for all the memories of this game I’ll never forget. To my teammates, I’m grateful to have gone to battle with talented athletes, strategized with incredible football minds, and developed lasting friendships with great people. To all the children out there with a dream – I was once a boy with a dream myself – believe me; everything that you can imagine is possible!”

 

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