Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes to retire after 15 seasons in Calgary
The two-time Grey Cup champion joined Calgary as a free agent in 2011 and became the longest-serving active player on the roster.
The Calgary Stampeders announced Tuesday that kicker Rene Paredes will retire at the end of the 2026 CFL season, closing out a 15-year career spent entirely with the club. The 41-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela signed with Calgary as a free agent in 2011 and became the longest-serving active player on the team.
Paredes ranks second in franchise history in seasons played, games played (253), points (2,535), field goals (649) and converts (547). He has made 87.7 per cent of his career field-goal attempts and 94.6 per cent of his converts, adding 59 singles along the way. He was named the CFL's outstanding special teams player in 2013 and is a five-time league all-star who helped Calgary win Grey Cups in 2014 and 2018.
His final regular-season game will be Oct. 17 at McMahon Stadium against the B.C. Lions. In a statement released by the team, Paredes said the decision wasn't easy but that playing for Calgary had been an honour, adding he looks forward to finishing the season strong and thanking those who shaped his career.
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