It’s official: Turtle Time is over

By: Chris Cariou Posted: 11:42 AM CST Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009

Milt Stegall, the svelte, smiling slotback who has scored more touchdowns than anyone else in the entire history of the Canadian Football League, announced his retirement from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this morning.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/02/2009 (6275 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The club immediately announced that he’ll go into the team’s Hall of Fame later this year.

“It wasn’t a tough decision,” said Stegall, dressed in a sharp-looking dark suit with a blue shirt and gold tie and accompanied by his wife Darlene and two young sons.

“Basically, before (last season), especially after I had the (knee) surgery, we decided that it was going to be my final season. It’s been a great run — 17 years professionally, 14 years in the CFL with the Blue Bombers.

“I have two regrets in my football career and one of them is that I wished my sons were older,” Stegall added. “Of course Chase has seen me play but I don’t know how much he’ll remember.”

Stegall, ever the joker, said he hoped it didn’t hurt anyone, but his son Chase’s two favourite players are both now former Bombers — running back Charlie Roberts and defensive end Tom Canada.

The Cincinnati product played 14 seasons in blue and gold after being picked up from the NFL in 1995 and scored 147 touchdowns, becoming one of the league’s most popular and outspoken players and characters.

His bright smile and cute quips and his teasing of the media made him a star off the field as well as on it. He dubbed himself Turtleman because of his washboard ab muscles.

Stegall leaves the league as its most prolific receiver by yardage, galloping for 15,165 yards on 855 catches. Last season, plagued by a knee injury, he caught only 30 passes for 470 yards and three TDs.

Stegall’s best season was 2002 when he caught 105 passes for 1,862 yards and 23 TDs, winning the league’s Most Outstanding Player Award.

But despite his greatness and his impact on the game — he’ll certainly be inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame — Stegall never did win a Grey Cup title.

Stegall said he’s going to stay involved in the Winnipeg community, although he didn’t specify how, and he said he’ll be a guest TV analyst for TSN.

Watch highlights from Milt Stegall’s career.

Stegall’s to be inducted into the Blue Bomber Hall of Fame on July 7 and will also be honoured by the club at the home opener July 10 against the Calgary Stampeders.

chris.cariou@freepress.mb.ca