CFL all-star who helped lead Tiger-Cats to Grey Cup win inducted to Wall of Honour

Former Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Darren Flutie became the 26th person inducted to the Wall of Honour at Tim Hortons Field during halftime of the game against the Edmonton Elks on Thursday.

The Elks beat the Ticats 24-10 yesterday (Aug. 17).

In a video, former teammates paid tribute to Flutie who won two Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos and Tiger-Cats.

“Congrats brother. Ticats Wall of Honour and it couldn’t have happened to a better person,” said former teammate Mike Morreale. Morreale is now commissioner and co-Founder of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. “I was blessed to sit there and have front row seat to everything you did on the field and everything you did off the field as well. It was just some of the most incredible times of my life as a player, to have teammates like you and to be able to learn from you and win championships with you and I just want to wish you all the best, man, you deserve it and it’s great to have you back here in the Hammer.”

“I’m so happy and proud for you pal. What an honour it is to have your name amongst all the legends who have made this wall so special,” added Rob Hitchcock, also a Wall of Honour inductee. “You’re a great friend, you’re a great teammate and best of all you weren’t a bad player as well. Congratulations and welcome to the wall.”

“As a Tiger-Cat, there’s not a bigger recognition than being on that wall,” said former offensive lineman Ryan Donnelly. “It’s absolutely well-deserved and to think every single Flutie generation from now on will be able to come to Tim Hortons field and see your name. Congratulations.”

Former quarterback Danny McManus thanked him for more than 10 years of being a teammate on and off field. “You carry Hamilton pride with distinction and honour. It’s good to be one of your teammates and now we get to be teammates forever on the wall.”

After 2.5 seasons in the National Football League, Flutie initially joined the BC Lions midway through the 1991 season.

Flutie signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1996 to join quarterback McManus and won a Grey Cup with the team that year. Flutie and McManus both went to Hamilton in 1998 where they helped the Ticats win the 1999 Grey Cup.

Flutie played in 193 regular season games and was a three-time CFL all-star. He experienced five consecutive seasons of 900-plus receiving yards, caught 972 passes, 66 touchdowns. Flutie was fourth in all-time CFL receiving yards with 14,359. In 14 playoff and Grey Cup games, he caught 75 passes for 1,500 yards and 11 touchdowns. He became the CFL’s all-time pass receptions leader on Oct. 14, 2002. He retired from the CFL that year.

Darren Flutie will become the 26th person inducted to the Wall of Honour at @TimHortonsField 👏

It will take place during halftime on August 17 when the Tiger-Cats host the Edmonton Elks!#Ticats | #CFL | @sarahannesaid pic.twitter.com/kKSvkOEJ3W

— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) August 11, 2023