Number 26 will never again be worn by a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as the club announced on Friday that they will be retiring the jersey of legendary former player Garney Henley next season.
Henley’s is just the third number retired by the Tiger-Cats, joining Angelo Mosca’s number 68 and Bernie Faloney’s number 10. The ceremony will take place during the first regular season home game of the 2025 season, which will mark 50 years since the native of Hayt, S.D. retired from the CFL in 1975.
“Garney Henley remains one of the greatest athletes in Canadian Football League history and one of the most respected players to ever wear a Tiger-Cats uniform. It’s time that his legacy is properly commemorated with his number proudly displayed in our stadium,” Tiger-Cats caretaker Bob Young said in a statement. “We’re incredibly excited to honour Garney and recognize his immense contributions to our team, our league, and our sport, at our first home game next season.”
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Henley played all 16 seasons of his CFL career with the Tiger-Cats, beginning in 1960. In 216 games as a defensive back, receiver and kick returner, he totalled 4,657 receiving yards, 5,209 yards from scrimmage, 2,944 punt return yards, 9,100 combined yards, 59 interceptions and 56 total touchdowns.
At the time of his retirement, Henley owned Ticats records for most combined yards, most receiving yards, most punt return yards, most total touchdowns, and most receiving touchdowns. He still owns team records for most takeaways (72), most interceptions, most interception return touchdowns (five) and most interception return yards (916). His 216 appearances rank second all-time among Tiger-Cats players.
Over the course of his distinguished CFL career, the Hayti, South Dakota native was nominated for the league’s Most Outstanding Player award six times, winning once in 1972. He was named an All-CFL and All-East Division defensive back for nine consecutive seasons from 1963 to 1971, before receiving the same status as a receiver in 1972. He was a monumental part of four of Hamilton’s Grey Cup championships — 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1972 — and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
“Playing for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was more than just a career — it was a privilege. To be honoured in this way is something you never expect but it means so much,” Henley said in a statement. “The degree of one’s success is built from the players you play with, and I was fortunate to have played during some of the most successful years in Tiger-Cats history. I had the opportunity to share the field with some of the best players in the league, two of whom I now have the honour of joining on the retired number list. Thank you for this honour.”
Henley’s name was added to the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour in 2000 and in 2012, he was voted by fans, media, and alumni members as both a defensive back and receiver on the All-Time Tiger-Cats team. The 88-year-old is also a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame, the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Guelph Athletics Hall of Fame.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-10) will wrap up their 2024 season on Friday, October 25 when they visit the Ottawa Redblacks at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
