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November 1, 2019

Michael Klassen announces retirement from football

Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca

OTTAWA — Following a seven-year CFL career, Ottawa REDBLACKS defensive lineman Michael Klassen is retiring from football.

Ahead of the team’s final game of the year against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, the 28-year-old made the announcement via Instagram on Friday.

 

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Well it’s been a ride…gave 11 years of my life to this sport! On this last day of our season I am officially announcing my retirement from football! 2 Vanier cup loses, 2 Mitchell bowl loses, 1 eastern final lose and 2 grey cup loses! You can look at it two ways.. either I’m a big loser, or I was very fortunate enough to play and contribute with a lot of great teams that almost finished lol. I prefer the latter! I want to thank all my coaches for both giving me an opportunity and instilling great qualities that will hopefully help me along in this next chapter of life! I was fortunate to play beside so many great football players and even better men that I consider some of my best friends, so I thank all my teammates for your friendship as well as putting up with all my locker room antics! To my friends and family for the continued support throughout the years! You guys make the pain and suffering of this rough sport all worth it! Love you guys! And finally to my #1 fan, ex-gf, current fiancé and future wife @k_immy_ you are the most supportive, caring and loving person I have ever met(obviously) and for you to be able to live apart from me for months at a time, I know it’s not easy so you Kim are the real MVP. . . If you somehow are still reading this, I am fortunate enough to strap on the pads one last time tonight for our team warmups so hopefully you can tune in and watch your @cflredblacks finish this season on a high note! . Love you guys! 💕💕💕💕

A post shared by Michael Klassen (@mikeygunz90) on

“I want to thank all my coaches for both giving me an opportunity and instilling great qualities that will hopefully help me along in this next chapter of life!” Klassen said in the post. “I was fortunate to play beside so many great football players and even better men that I consider some of my best friends, so I thank all my teammates for your friendship as well as putting up with all my locker room antics!

“To my friends and family for the continued support throughout the years! You guys make the pain and suffering of this rough sport all worth it!”

Klassen, 28, spent three years at the University of Calgary, compiling 40 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception over 18 games with the Dinos.

He was selected by the Montreal Alouettes in the fourth round of the 2013 CFL Draft. In his four seasons with the Als, he had 48 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles in 54 games.

The Calgary native played a single season for his hometown Stampeders before heading back out East to play for the REDBLACKS. In two seasons in the nation’s capital, Klassen accumulated 50 tackles and six sacks in 25 games.

TD Place will play host to the REDBLACKS’ season finale against the Als. The teams are set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET.