Cast your mind back to 1999. It was the year that, during the CFL College Draft, Davis Sanchez was chosen as the 6th overall pick by the Montreal Alouettes. Within 12 months he was topping the league for interceptions. That led to the coveted Lew Hayman Trophy as Sanchez was named the best Canadian player in the East Division.

Fast-forward 25 years and Sanchez is one of Canada’s top sports analysts. Working for The Sports Network (TSN) and CTV, Sanchez is known for his confident manner, sharp wit, and astute knowledge of the game. He’s a renowned note-taker and spends a lot of time analysing the stats. His understanding of football coupled with his passionate presentation style have made him a fan favourite.

On-field achievements

After Sanchez’s early-career success in his native Canada, teams south of the border came calling. Sanchez would enjoy two years with the San Diego Chargers but never tasted playoff football. He then joined the Calgary Stampeders before being traded back to Montreal in 2004. In 2005, Sanchez donned the jersey of the Edmonton Eskimos before returning to Montreal in 2006 in exchange for Reggie Durden and Rob Brown, marking his third spell with the Alouettes, where he played for four seasons.

Throughout his illustrious career, Sanchez celebrated three Grey Cup triumphs. Although an injury sidelined him during the 2005 Grey Cup Game with the Edmonton Eskimos, he revelled in the victory with the Montreal Alouettes in 2009. Sanchez’s stellar performances earned him three selections to the East Division All-Star team.

On February 9, 2010, Sanchez fulfilled a dream by signing with his hometown team, the BC Lions, following his release request from the Montreal Alouettes. His association with the Lions culminated in a third Grey Cup victory in 2011. After playing two seasons, Sanchez announced his retirement on May 14, 2012, concluding a remarkable career in professional football.

A new career in the media

Sanchez’s skills on the field have transferred to his entrepreneurial aptitude in recent years. In 2020 he was one of the founders of the Ontario-headquartered TSN’s betting and fantasy football hub. It joins a growing number of Canadian gambling platforms in the province including casino Ontario online sites offering popular slot games and live table favourites like poker and blackjack.

For Sanchez, TSN’s betting and fantasy football hub presents an opportunity to give his opinions on the latest round of games. Fans welcome his predictions because they know he has had the experience of playing football at the top level. Now one of the go-to pundits on Canadian TV, when Sanchez speaks, people listen.

In an interview with Surrey Now-Leader, Sanchez recalls his late mother remarking that he’d be a good football analyst. It was shortly after his retirement and at the time he had no interest in sports broadcasting. He started his own facilities services company instead. But after getting the opportunity to feature in a podcast with the presented James Cybulski in 2017, Sanchez was bitten by the media bug. “Once I started doing it and enjoyed it, I realized that it could be a good [career] path.” He’s not looked back since.