Men's Football | 6/27/2017 6:06:00 PM

MONTREAL -- Randy Chevrier, who was the first McGill University graduate to be drafted by a National Football League team, formally announced his retirement, Tuesday, from a long professional sporting career.

The 41-year-old native of St. Leonard, Que., has hung up his cleats after 16 pro seasons, with NFL stints in Jacksonville, Dallas and Cincinnati, in addition to a tryout with the New York Giants. He followed that by playing 204 career regular season CFL contests, with stops in Edmonton (23 games), Calgary (178) and Saskatchewan (3). Chevrier saw action as a defensive lineman early in his CFL career before settling into a full-time long-snapper role in 2008. He also saw occasional duty in the Stamps' short-yardage packages and had two career touchdown catches.

"Football has been a great source of pride, joy, accomplishment, emotion, triumph, achievement, pain, sadness, loss, happiness and laughter in my life," wrote Chevrier on his Facebook page. "Basically, all the emotions you experience in a lifetime are encountered practically on a seasonal basis. I lived 16 years of it. I would be lying if I said it was all rosy and amazing, but I love the game and I respect the journey as well as all the lessons the sport taught my family and I."

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman and long-snapper only began playing organized football as an 18-year old at Vanier College in Montreal. He went on to star for five seasons with the McGill Redmen, graduating with a physical education degree before being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round (241st overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft and was also picked fifth overall by Edmonton in the 2001 CFL Draft. Chevrier, who didn't see action with the Jaguars, played a total of 13 NFL games for the Bengals and Cowboys and also spent time with the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe.

"(Through football) I made lifelong friends... got my education... helped my community... learned to lead... learned to lose (and) learned to be a winner," said Chevrier who won Grey Cup rings with the Stampeders in 2008 and 2013, along with his first Cup victory at Edmonton in 2003. "I learned my strengths... faced my weaknesses... traveled the world... found my home and met my wife. I was blessed to play professional football for 16 years. In that time I have had the opportunity to play all around the world, especially when I look at my career in the NFL, NFLE, and CFL."

Born in Montreal on June 6, 1976, Chevrier went on to attend McGill from 1996 to 2000 and collected 23 major awards during his collegiate career. He was the first player in school history to receive the J.P. Metras trophy as the most outstanding lineman in Canadian university football in 2000 and was one of two CIS players selected to play in the East-West Shrine game, a showcase designed for graduating NCAA seniors. He played 40 regular season games with the Redmen and recorded 157 tackles and 10 quarterback sacks.

In 2001, he attended training camp with the Jaguars before joining the Cowboys and then the Bengals before being allocated to the NFL Europe's Barcelona Dragons. He joined the Eskimos in 2005 and played there for two seasons before signing with the Stampeders, where he suited up for 11 years. From 2005 to 2015, Chevrier played a total of 178 regular-season contests for the Stamps, tying Hall-of-Famer Wayne Harris for eighth place on the franchise's all-time list.

"I have had the chance to play with some of my idols when I became a pro. I've played with and against Hall of Famers, and I witnessed the humble beginnings of some great players who are now Superstars. To friends, family and colleagues who have offered support throughout this journey, the Chevy's thank you. Through the many seasons of change and uncertainty you have been there for us. They say, It takes a village to raise a football player."

In 2014, Chevrier was awarded the Stamps' Herm Harrison Memorial Award and the CFLPA's Tom Pate Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship and contribution to his team and community. he served as the Stamps club representative to the Canadian Cancer Society and started a number of community-based initiatives. Among them was a weekly hospital visits program, an Anti-Bullying campaign, and a "Tickled Pink" event which annually raises thousands of dollars for the Canadian Cancer Society.  He also volunteered with the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters and served as a substitute teacher, a high school and youth football coach, and a minor hockey coach. He was formerly the rep for the "Every Yard Counts" program with the Alberta Children's Hospital.

Prior to choosing to pursue a professional football career, Chevrier had a tryout with Bobsleigh Canada. He met his wife Tania at McGill, where she was a member of the women's varsity volleyball team and the couple has three children Luke, Brett and Kyle.

"To every teammate I've ever played with, I hope you felt that I treated you like a brother. I have only ever strived to be a dependable performer, who had the time of day for everyone of you. I have much love and respect for every teammate I ever played with...thanks for your positive impact in my life and on my career! I will forever cherish our friendships and memories, so long as they remain in my mind.

"Early on I was a defensive tackle who long snapped...and towards the end, I was an emergency everything...but make no mistake, I understood long snapping is what allowed me to play as long as I did. I'd like to think I was pretty good at it. However, just as football is the ultimate team game, so too is the kicking game. I was fortunate to work with the best of the best for all my career.

"I hope that my contributions to this wonderful community far outweigh my football accomplishments. Thank you to the staff, the countless media and community people in the Stampeders organization that worked tirelessly and allowed me many opportunities to interact with and inspire the fans and my city."

"The next phase of life offers challenge, uncertainty, anticipation and excitement! I am glad that Calgary is the community where I will face all that. I look forward to going to Stamps games with my family, cheering the red, and building my community up to the greatness it inspires within me! This is an emotional day as I call it a career, but a happy day as I realize I have an opportunity to have this time to say a proper goodbye."

Career highlights

• A Grey Cup champion with the Stampeders in 2008 and 2013, in addition to one with the Eskimos in 2003
• Played his 100th career CFL game on Aug. 8, 2009, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• Played his 150th career CFL game on Aug. 9, 2012, against Hamilton
• Suited up for his 100th game as a Stampeder on Sept. 17, 2010, against Saskatchewan
• Suited up in his 125th game as a Stampeder on Nov. 5, 2011, against Winnipeg
• Dropped Ottawa's Kerry Joseph on July 31, 2003, for his first-career sack
• His first CFL interception came on Sept. 9, 2005, against Edmonton
• Made a one-yard reception for first-career touchdown against Saskatchewan on Sept. 15, 2007
• Picked up his second-career touchdown with a one-yard reception against Winnipeg on Nov. 5, 2010
• Started his Stamps career with a 53-game ironman streak that ended with the final contest of 2007
• Played the entire 2006 season with a broken hand and snapped all of the team's punts and field goals with his hand in a cast
• In a game during the 2010 season, he punted the ball once, sending the kick an impressive 52 yards downfield

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Communications Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
MOBILE SITE: http://mcgillathletics.ca/mobile/index.aspx
WEBSITE: www.mcgillathletics.ca
TWITTER: @EarlZukerman
E-MAIL: earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca