The longest serving Toronto Argonaut, LS Jake Reinhart, is retiring after spending nearly a decade with the Boatmen. The undrafted free agent out of the University of Guelph spent eight seasons as Toronto’s primary long snapper. Playing in 117 regular season games and two playoff games, culminating with winning a Grey Cup with the Argonauts in 2017.

Jake Reinhart Announces An End To His Stellar Career

The 32-year-old Ontario native Jake Reinhart was an ironman early in his career. Not missing a single game until his sixth season in the league. In the last few seasons, particularly in 2021 and this year, injuries have caught up to one of the CFL’s best long snappers. Reinhart suffered a severe elbow injury in 2021 that almost resulted in his arm being amputated. The grizzled vet battled back from the severe damage to start seven games this season before reinjuring the same elbow.

Long snappers are often the last player football fans think of when watching games. They go unnoticed unless something goes awry. The great ones, like Jake Reinhart, you almost forget that they are in uniform and on the team. Because they never make any mistakes.

Long snappers typically go unnoticed and rarely get the recognition they deserve. To be great and last a long time. You have to be perfect at your job. One slip up, and you can be replaced. You can’t execute 99 great snaps out of a hundred. One mistake could cost your team and ultimately end up in you losing your job.

People will tend to notice when a great hold happens by a holder on a field goal try. But a perfect snap is ignored. The limelight very rarely shines on the thankless job of long snappers.

That’s unless Boris Bede is your kicker. A year ago, the All-Star specialist, who won several games for Toronto in 2021, paid tribute to his fallen brother-in-arms after Reinhart fell to injury. Bede was prepared to salute Reinhart after he nailed a game-winning 51-yard field goal at the final gun to beat the Ti-Cats in Hamilton. Bede held up Reinhart’s #58 on the field within seconds after making a clutch kick in his honour.

The Toronto Argonauts released a retirement statement to the media. In the press release, the football club commented on the announcement and what the partnership between the player and organization has meant for both sides. Reinhart is retiring to become a firefighter. A hero on the field and off, doing a selfless job. That’s right on brand for Jake Reinhart.

LONGEST TENURED ARGONAUT JAKE REINHART CALLS IT A CAREER

TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced today long snapper Jake Reinhart has decided to hang up his cleats.

Reinhart is currently the longest-serving Toronto Argonaut after being signed as an undrafted free agent from the University of Guelph in 2014. Reinhart was an ironman early in his career, starting all 18 regular season games each of his first five seasons, eventually playing 117 regular season games, two playoff games, and one Grey Cup, a win over Calgary in 2017. The former Guelph Gryphon also chipped in with 35 special teams tackles over his eight-year career. As consistent and reliable as they come across the CFL in delivering pinpoint, accurate snaps and a teammate everyone loved having around, Reinhart suffered an elbow injury eight games into the 2021 season that almost resulted in the long snapper having to have his arm amputated. With a scar ranging from his wrist to his elbow, Reinhart showed his determination and dedication to his craft by overcoming the significant injury and playing seven games in 2022 before reinjuring the same elbow and being forced out for the remainder of the season. He has accepted a job with the Kitchener Fire Department and will transition from the field to the firehouse.

“Today is the worst, good day of the year as Jake Reinhart, our longest serving player, is officially retired,” said Argos General Manager Michael Clemons. “If you don’t recognize the name, that is a good thing because long snappers only get noticed when something goes wrong. Not only is he one of the most consistent players to don the Double Blue, but a player for a player would also adamantly affirm that he is one of the best teammates they’ve ever had. He is leaving as a role model to become a hero. His new position will have even more pressure; as a firefighter, he will serve and protect fellow Canadians’ lives at his own risk. This is not goodbye; Jake Reinhart will always be a Toronto Argonaut.”