The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Thursday that the football club has re-signed national free agent receiver Andy Fantuz.
“Andy is one of our captains, team leaders and an important part of the winning culture in our locker room here in Hamilton,” said Tiger-Cats Vice-President of Football Operations, General Manager and Head Coach Kent Austin. “Continuity is important, and what he brings to our offence in terms of his consistent production, experience and knowledge of our system is invaluable.”
Fantuz, 32, registered 42 receptions for 432 yards and two touchdowns in nine games with the Tiger-Cats in 2015, missing nine games in the middle of the season due to an elbow injury. He also started Hamilton’s two playoff games, posting eight receptions for 88 yards.
The Chatham, Ontario native has appeared in 128 CFL games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006-11) and Tiger-Cats (2012-15), recording 530 receptions for 7,249 yards and 39 touchdowns. He attended training camp with the NFL’s Chicago Bears in 2011 before returning to the CFL. In 2010, Fantuz was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian, and a CFL and West Division All-Star after catching 87 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns. He has also played in five Grey Cup games, winning one (2007) and being named the game’s Most Outstanding Canadian twice (2007, 2014).
The 6-4, 220-pound receiver was selected by the Riders with the third overall pick in the 2006 CFL Draft after a record-setting CIS career at Western. During his four years with the Mustangs, Fantuz set new CIS and OUA marks for career receiving yards (4,123), single-season receiving yards (1300 in 2002), career receptions (189) and career touchdown receptions (41). He was the recipient of the Hec Crighton award as the top player in CIS football in 2005.