Stu Laird Explained

Stu Laird
Status:Retired
Import:no
Position1:Defensive tackle/Defensive end
Birth Date:8 July 1960
Birth Place:Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Canada
Cis:Calgary
Administrating Years1:
Administrating Team1:CFLPA President
Playing Years1:
Playing Team1:Calgary Stampeders
Career Highlights:
Awards:1991 - Tom Pate Memorial Award1988, 1992, 1995 - Stampeders Presidents Ring Award2014 - Stampeders Wall of Fame

Stuart Laird (born July 8, 1960) is a former professional Canadian football defensive tackle who played thirteen seasons for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a graduate of the University of Calgary where he was a five-year starter with the Calgary Dinosaurs from 1978 to 1982, and earned a bachelor of arts degree in Economics.

Laird's playing achievements include 1985 Stampeder special teams player of the year, 1988 and 1991 CFLPA outstanding defensive line, 1992 Grey Cup Champion, 1995 CFL West All-Star and retired with the most QB sacks by a Canadian born player in CFL history (now 3rd). His number 75 jersey was retired in 1996.[1]

Laird ranks 3rd on the Stamps all-time sack list and was inducted onto the Stampeders Wall of Fame in September 2014. Laird was also recognized by the Stampeders in 1988, 1992 and again in 1995 when Stu became the recipient of their prestigious President’s Ring, one of only two players to win the Ring three times.[2]

In 2001, five years after he retired from the CFL, Laird was elected the eighth President of the Canadian Football League Players' Association, serving until 2012.[3]

In 2005, Laird was a recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal. The medal celebrates Alberta's first 100 years by paying tribute to Albertans whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community and their province. [4]

On July 3, 2020 Laird was selected to the TSN CFL2020 Calgary Stampeder All-Time team.[5]

In 2022 Laird was selected by 3rd Down Nation as the "Greatest CFL player" ever from the University of Calgary. [6]

Laird worked as a full-time firefighter, promoted to the position of Battalion Chief with the Calgary Fire Department before retiring in 2020.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Retired numbers . 2023-09-15 . Calgary Stampeders . en.
  2. Web site: Presidents' Ring . 2023-09-15 . Calgary Stampeders . en.
  3. Web site: About CFLPA – CFLPA . 2023-09-15 . cflpa.com.
  4. Web site: 2006-10-10 . Centennial Medal Recipients (H - N) - Alberta Centennial . 2023-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061010225253/http://www.albertacentennial.ca/programs/medal_recip_h-n.html . 2006-10-10 .
  5. Web site: Cornish . Jon . Press . The Canadian . 2020-07-03 . Flutie, Cornish highlight CFL2020's All-Time Stampeders roster - TSN.ca . 2023-06-01 . TSN . en.
  6. Web site: Abbott . J. C. . 2022-08-25 . Campus GOATs: Every Canada West school's greatest CFL/NFL player of all-time . 2023-06-01 . 3DownNation . en-US.