Michael Reilly announced Monday that after 11 seasons of play he will be retiring from the CFL. The B.C. Lion’s quarterback has had an illustrious career and can truly say he left it all on the field.
Reilly will finish his career with 34,805 passing yards, 182 touchdowns over a span of 168 games in the league. Including leagues MOP, two Grey Cup wins, and one Grey Cup MVP title.
“When you draw up quarterbacks, Michael Reilly is the kind of quarterback you want. He can do everything for you,” said Neil McEvoy, Lion’s co-general manager.
First joining the Lions in 2010 Reilly played backup for three seasons. In 2011 the Lion’s won the Grey Cup for the 6th time in franchise history.
“Whenever we had the football, we always had a chance to win because Mike was able to put you in a position to win,” said Neil McEvoy. “Not all quarterbacks have that allure. He was just one of the guys that have that.”
Reilly was traded to the Edmonton Elks in 2013. He would play for six seasons and lead the Elks to their second Grey Cup in 2015 where Reilly was named Grey Cup MVP. He passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the 26-10 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
Michael played 69 games with the Lions between two stints at the beginning of his career and before retiring passing or a combined 7,876 yard and 38 touchdown passes with the franchise.
“Michael will go down as one of the great players and people our football club and league has ever seen,” Neil McEvoy said Monday.
Reilly led the league in passing yards four seasons, from 2016 to 2018 with the Edmonton Elks, and again this final season with the Lions. Michael was only the third quarterback in the league to pass for over 5,000 yards in three seasons alongside the NFL hall of fame CFL legend Doug Flutie.
“From his arrival mid-way through the 2010 season to scrapping his way to make our squad in 2011 training camp with a quarterback room that included Travis Lulay and Jarious Jackson, his drive to compete and win is something all young professionals should aspire to,” said Neil McEvoy.
Michael Reilly will finish his career as a fan favorite and a highly respected player by his peers. There is no doubt, that he will be in the conversation for best QB of the past decade, and deserves to be considered for the hall of fame.
