Canadian defensive end Kwaku Boateng has announced his retirement from the CFL after five seasons.
The 28-year-old made the announcement via his Twitter account on Thursday afternoon, thanking a select group of coaches and executives.
“Despite the interest CFL teams have expressed, I’ve chosen to retire from professional football.
I aim to protect my health, while also pursuing my business aspirations.
Thank you to Brock Sunderland, Coach Demetrious Maxie, and Coach Mike Benevides for being honourable men during my career.”
Boateng was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 CFL draft by the Edmonton Elks. He spent four seasons with the team, recording 83 total tackles, 25 sacks, and one forced fumble in 64 career games.
The six-foot-two, 260-pounder had a breakout year in 2018 when he earned a starting role and recorded nine sacks to receive the team’s nomination for Most Outstanding Canadian. He followed that up with eight sacks in 2019.
Boateng signed with the Ottawa Redblacks for the 2022 season but missed the entire year with a torn Achilles he suffered in training camp. He went joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023 but was released on June 13 after being named a healthy scratch for the club’s season-opening loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Prior to his CFL career, Boateng was a two-time U Sports All-Canadian at Wilfrid Laurier. He played an integral role in the team’s 2016 Yates Cup championship, which was the program’s first since 2005. Boateng is the Golden Hawks’ career sack leader.
