The Canadian Football League’s all-time passing yardage leader has elected to retire.
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo announced Tuesday that he was stepping away from the game after 20 seasons.
Calvillo, 41, threw for a league-record 79,816 yards and 455 touchdowns in his CFL career, the bulk of which was spent in Montreal. He helped lead the Alouettes to three Grey Cup titles, including back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010, when now-Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman held the same position in Montreal.
In a video statement, Trestman praised Calvillo for his play and approach to the game.
“(You) represented and carried yourself in a fashion that taught your teammates and coaches how to live and how to lead,” Trestman said.
“Your statistics as a player will always be there, and eventually, some time, somewhere, they’ll be broken, but what you gave those that stood by you in the locker room and on the field will be forever. You taught us about accountability, hard work, consistency of demeanor and loyalty.”
In his retirement press conference, Calvillo noted he has been medically cleared after the concussion that ended his 2013 season.
Calvillo also expressed confidence in Troy Smith, who ended the 2013 season as Montreal’s starting quarterback.
“To see what Troy did in half a season . . . I truly believe we’ve got the right guys in place moving forward,” Calvillo said, according to the Alouettes.
The Alouettes recently signed Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, through 2016.