After leading the CFL into passing again last season, Michael Reilly is hanging up his books.
The BC Lions full-back announced his retirement on Monday after 11 seasons in the league.
“When you set up backs, Michael Reilly is the kind of back you want. He can do anything for you, ”said Neil McEvoy, BC’s co-general manager and director of football operations.
The 36-year-old from Kennewick, Washington, first joined the Lions in 2010 and played back-to-back for three seasons, including 2011 when BC won the Gray Cup at home in Vancouver.
Just when his contract was due to expire in 2013, the Lions transferred Reilly to Edmonton, where he became a dominant starter and played six seasons. He won a second championship title in 2015 and was named the Gray Cup MVP.
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Edmonton Eskimos’ fullback Mike Reilly lifts the Gray Cup after his teams won the Ottawa Redblacks during the 103rd Gray Cup in Winnipeg, Man. Sunday 29 November 2015.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / Ryan Remior
Rick Campbell remembers the match well. He was the coach of the Ottawa Redblacks at the time, beating Edmonton 26-20. Reilly finished 21-of-35 for 269 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Now Campbell is head coach and co-GM of the Lions, and had an opportunity to work with Reilly during the 2021 season.
“I had a lot of respect for him when I saw him from the other side,” Campbell said.
“He does all the things you hope a football player does. He is good on the field, but also just super competitive, loves the game, he is a great teammate, a great leader, all that. ”
Reilly impressed once again in 2017 and earned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award with career highs in passing yards (5,830) and touchdowns (30).
In 2019, Reilly returned to BC and said he wanted to bring the Gray Cup back to Vancouver.
However, his second turn at the Lions was difficult. A broken wrist ended his 2019 campaign and the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off the CFL’s 2020 season.
During the game break, the star full-back went through a contract grievance with his team before concluding his contract and renegotiating to stay until 2022.
An elbow injury to his throwing arm kept Reilly out of the first game of 2021 and tormented him through the season.
The Lions finished the year out of the playoffs with a record of 5-9, but Reilly still reached a league high of 3,283 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions.
It was the fourth time he has led the league in passing, after three consecutive seasons (2016-2018) in Edmonton.
“When we had football, we always had a chance to win because Mike could put you in a position to win,” McEvoy said.
“Not all backs have that allure. He was just one of the guys who had it. “
Reilly ended his career with 34,805 passing yards and 182 touchdowns over 168 games.
While McEvoy and Campbell could not say with certainty what the future holds for Reilly, the Central Washington University product has previously begun training to be a firefighter.
“I think it’s good for him to be able to go out on his own terms, where he doesn’t literally have to limp off the field,” Campbell said.
“He is healthy, he is happy, he has some young (daughters) at home, he has a wonderful family. I’m sure it was all factors for him. “
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Reilly’s retirement did not completely surprise the Lions, McEvoy said.
“He’s an 11-year-old professional athlete and when you start getting into the double digits, you start thinking about your future and Michael is no different,” he said.
Campbell already knows who will replace Reilly as the Lions’ starter this season.
“Our plan is that Nathan Rourke will be the beginner,” he said. “And we would like to add a veteran CFL quarterback to the mix.
“I would look at it as a No. 1 and No. 1a situation.”
Rourke, a 23-year-old from Victoria, BC, started the Lions’ last game of 2021 and for 359 yards, passed a knockout and two interceptions in a 43-10 victory over Edmonton. He also added three rushing TDs.
“I just don’t see that (Rourke) changing much,” Campbell said. “He will continue to work hard and do this thing.”
© 2022 The Canadian Press
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