Chris Edwards has retired from professional football, he confirmed to 3DownNation via text message on Monday morning.
The six-foot-two, 217-pound strong-side linebacker was a pending free agent and wasn’t going to be offered a contract to remain with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, general manager Ed Hervey indicated last month.
Edwards declined to make a statement regarding his decision to retire, though it seems reasonable to speculate that the three-game suspension he received following the East Semi-Final might have been a factor.
The native of Detroit, Mi. threw Montreal Alouettes’ receiver Jake Harty to the ground and punched him in the head during the final minute of Hamilton’s postseason loss at Percival Molson Stadium. The incident caused both benches to clear, followed by a long stoppage in play while the officials sorted things out. Edwards was ejected for his role in the altercation.
The 31-year-old also received supplemental discipline from the league on multiple previous occasions. He was assessed a maximum fine early in the 2023 season for punching Austin Mack and was suspended six games in late 2021 after engaging in a physical altercation with fans after the East Final. The suspension was later reduced to three games, which he served at the start of the 2022 season.
Edwards played 98 career regular season games as a member of the Edmonton Football Team, B.C. Lions, Toronto Argonauts, and Tiger-Cats. He recorded 231 defensive tackles, 10 special teams tackles, 10 interceptions, eight sacks, five forced fumbles, 45 kickoff returns for 1,036 yards, and one defensive touchdown. He was named a CFL all-star in 2021 and won a Grey Cup as a member of the Argonauts in 2022.
CFL free agency is set to get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at noon EST.
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