CFL icon Stegall calls it quits

Milt Stegall has caught his last pass.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver and all-time CFL touchdown leader formally announced his retirement at a news conference on Wednesday, bringing to an end one of the most successful careers in league history.

"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.

 "I'm happy that I actually got a chance to experience all these things."

Stegall, 39, holds records in several CFL categories including most touchdowns (147) and an all-time best 15,165 reception yards.

"Milt's career has set so many new standards on and off the field. His professionalism and contribution to the Blue Bombers and the CFL will be very difficult to replace," said Blue Bombers president Lyle Bauer.

During a 14-season career with the Blue Bombers, he won the league's most outstanding player award in 2002 when he made a record 23 touchdowns on a career-high 105 catches and 1,862 yards.

Stegall was a six-time league all-star and finished his career with 855 receptions, a number only exceeded by four players.

The one thing he wasn't able to win during his storied career was a championship. Winnipeg twice reached the Grey Cup during Stegall's tenure with the club but was unable to win in 2001 and 2007.

But it's not a regret that hangs over his head.

"My legacy has nothing to do with what I did on the football field, it was just a plateau that I used to go on and do bigger and better things," Stegall said. "Football didn't make me who I am.  It was something that I did and now I move on."

The future Hall of Famer is coming off the least productive year since his first CFL campaign in 1995. The slotback caught 30 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns in an injury-plagued 2008 season.

Stegall began his pro football career in 1992 with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals. He joined his hometown club as an undrafted free agent out of Miami University, playing in 21 games over three seasons before making his way north and joining the Blue Bombers in 1995.