(Vancouver) Quarterback Michael Reilly is retiring after 11 seasons in the CFL, the BC Lions announced Monday.
Posted at 6:24 p.m.
The 36-year-old Reilly, 36, has played 168 games on the circuit, including 69 with the Lions (from 2010 to 2012, then from 2019 to 2021).
Gray Cup champion with the team in 2011, Reilly had 7,876 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes with the Lions.
“Michael will go down as one of the greatest players and one of the most exceptional people in Lions and CFL history,” Lionsé co-general manager Neil McEvoy said in a statement.
“From his arrival in the middle of the 2010 season, to his work ethic to carve out a place with us at camp in 2011, when we already had Travis Lulay and Jarious Jackson, his thirst for success can serve as an inspiration to all young professionals. »
After a trade to Edmonton in 2013, Reilly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the league. In 99 regular season games over six seasons with Edmonton, Reilly had 26,929 passing yards and 144 touchdown passes.
He helped the team win the Gray Cup in 2015, adding 269 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 26-20 win over Ottawa.
Reilly’s 34,805 passing yards rank him 14the in CFL history.
A Washington native, Reilly led the CFL in passing yards in four seasons: 2016-18 and last season.
He became only the third quarterback in the league with 5,000 or more yards in three consecutive seasons. The others are Doug Flutie and Anthony Calvillo.