March 20, 2019

Matt Black announces retirement, joins Argos front office

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts announced on Wednesday that defensive back Matt Black has retired from professional football.

Black was born and raised in Toronto and spent his entire 10-year career with the Double Blue after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 CFL Draft. The defensive back reached the pinnacle of the sport twice during his career, winning Grey Cups in 2012 and 2017. His first Grey Cup championship was won on home turf at the Rogers Centre and his second ring ended on one of the most memorable plays in Grey Cup history.

It was Black, released by the team mid-season and re-signed later, who came soaring through the snowy November air for a Grey Cup-sealing interception in the end zone with 20 seconds left on the clock. Over 127 games played for the Argos, the Saginaw Valley State product tallied 153 defensive tackles, 83 special teams tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, two touchdowns and two forced fumbles. His 21 special teams tackles in 2012 were good for fourth-best in the CFL that year.

A natural leader in the locker room and role model away from the field, Black has been a constant presence in his community, time and time again making a difference any way he can. He was honoured in 2016 with the CFL’s Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award, an award given to a Canadian CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans through strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities. Black’s community initiatives include: 10 years with the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention program, ambassador at MLSE Launchpad, Canadian Tire JumpStart, Make the Call: Ending violence against women, Level the Playing Field program, Goodlife Argo-cise program, Salvation Army Thanksgiving dinners, book launch programs at schools and past spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services.

Matt will be continuing his career in Double Blue by entering the front office in a football operations and player relations capacity.