Ex-Aggie Anthony Calvillo retires after 20-year CFL career

Montreal • Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo announced Tuesday that he is retiring following 20 memorable seasons in the CFL, closing one of the greatest careers in all of professional football.

The longtime face of the franchise and five-time CFL All-Star was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player on three separate occasions over the course of his career and holds league records of 79,816 passing yards, 455 touchdown passes, 5,892 completions and 9,437 pass attempts.

"It has been quite a ride! As a kid growing up in California, I never thought that it would be possible to play professional football for 20 years in a country and a city that I knew nothing of," Calvillo said in a statement. "I will forever be thankful to our owner Bob Wetenhall and General Manager Jim Popp for allowing this franchise to have all the success that we have had over the years. The city of Montreal and all the great Alouettes fans across the Province of Quebec have embraced me and that feeling is mutual."

Calvillo, who played for Utah State, broke into the CFL with the Las Vegas Posse in 1994 and spent the following three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before rising to stardom after joining the Alouettes in 1998. Serving as quarterback Tracy Ham's understudy for two seasons, Calvillo took over as the starting quarterback in 2000 on his way to winning three Grey Cups with Montreal in 2002, 2009, and in 2010. He was also named the 2002 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Player.

"My family has been privileged to be associated with Anthony over all these years," said Alouettes owner Bob Wetenhall. "We wish him well and are looking ahead to our continuing engagement."

Calvillo, who was presented with the Key to the City at the end of the 2011 season, led the Alouettes to eight Grey Cup appearances and owns several championship records for most pass completions (179), passing yards (2,470) and touchdown passes thrown.