Milt Stegall Calls It a Career-Touchdown King Retires After 14 Glorious Seasons

February 18, 2009 will go down in history as a tragic day for all Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans and fans of the Canadian Football League. Wednesday marked the end of Milt Stegall as a football player as he officially announced his retirement after 14 glorious CFL seasons. 

Stegall leaves the game as without question the greatest receiver in the history of the Canadian Football League.  Known as the Turtle man among other names today is a day all Bomber fans dreaded as Milt has been the face of the Bomber Franchise since he got here from the NFL back in 1995.  ''I have enough stored up right now where I can really ride into the sunset and really enjoy and not be sad that it's over, but be happy that I got a chance to go through it,'' Stegall said. ''It was a great experience and I'll miss it, but I'm not sad it's over.

Steaks leaves the game as the all-time leader in career touchdowns (147), career TD catches (144), and career receiving yards (15,153).  In edition he holds the single season record for most touchdown in a year with 23 in 2002, and most yards from scrimmage as he averaged 26.5 yards in 1997. 

A hall of fame shoe in Stegall came here following a good college career at Miami of Ohio where he spent a good deal of time returning kicks.  in College Stegall was also a member of the track team and held the record for most kick return yards with 1,377 career yards, a record that would last until 2002.  Stegall dream of playing pro football came true when his hometown Cincinnati Bengals from 1992-95.  He spent the majority of his time as a kick returner but saw little playing time before being cut in 95.  He was briefly signed by the Green Bay Packers but was a late cut that year.

Late in the 95 CFL season Stegall decided to go North to Canada in hopes of being noticed by the NFL.  He signed a deal with the Bombers to play the final six games that season and from there Chocolate Milt was born.  That year Stegall gained 469 yards and it became clear that Milt was a real special receiver.  In 1997 Stegall really burst onto the scene becoming a CFL all-star for the first of many times and reaching his first 1000 yard season, gaining 1616 yards.  By this point Stegall had moved into a full time slot-back and teams keyed heavily on him. 

It was clear that Stegall was a Diamond on a team that lacked talent,depth,Discipline and everything in between.  Stegall would often get double or triple coverage but always seemed to find a way to get open and turn in positive yardage.  While the team did not often get the results in his early years Stegall was always putting on a show both on and off the field.  A CFL career that was only supposed to be brief turned into 14 incredible season that the city of Winnipeg won't soon forget.

In 2001 Stegall finally got a little help with an MVP QB in Khari Jones and a Running Back in Charles Roberts.  The help would propel the Bombers to the Grey Cup game where they fell short to the Calgary Stampeders but Stegall still managed to score a touchdown.  By this point in his career Milt Stegall was a Winnipeg icon and it was clear there was no place else on earth that Milt wanted to be. 

In 2002 he had a banner year setting records in receiving touchdowns and winning the most outstanding player award.  Six years later with Milt now in the twilight of his career was instrumental in the Bombers making the Grey Cup in 2007.  Sadly the story book ending that was supposed to be for Stegall became a Greek tragedy as the Riders edged the Bombers in a heartbreaking game.  Bomber fans will be left to wonder what would have been had Glenn not been hurt.  That was as close as Stegall would come to hoisting the cup, he would play one final season in 2008.

Despite all his accomplishment what fans and players will always remember about Milt is his love for his team.  He never cared about his acheivements all that was second nature, for Milt Stegall there was only one thing that mattered, winning. 

The future hall of famer Stegall will come back and be a guest analyst next season with TSN.  Despite not winning a Grey Cup Stegall insisted that is not a regret he will carry.  With Stegall now gone it's only fitting that I end this with a guarantee of my own.  Milt was once quoted as saying there are six guarantees in this world, death, taxes. trouble, Milt Stegall being on time,Milt Stegall being pretty,and Milt Stegall being in tip top shape.  Well Milt here's one final guarantee from myself, Milt Stegall in the hall of fame as the greatest ever receiver in the Canadian Football League.