Arguably the greatest receiver in CFL history is about to add yet another honour on his already jam-packed resume.
Milt Stegall has been named a member of this year’s Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame class alongside two other athletes, two builders, and one team. The legendary target rewrote the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ record book over a 14-year run with the team (1995-2008) during which he made 854 receptions for 15,153 yards and 144 touchdowns.
“It is an honour to recognize these athletes and builders, not only for their achievements in sport but their contributions to their communities,” said Hall of Fame chairperson Brittani Lutz in a statement. “Each individual has done so much for Manitoba, and I cannot wait to thank them in person at our induction ceremony.”
The nine-time CFL all-star retired following the 2008 season as the league’s all-time leading receiver, a mark that was surpassed by Geroy Simon in 2012. He still holds league records for most career touchdowns (147), most career touchdown receptions (144), most single-season touchdowns (23), and most single-season touchdown receptions (23).
Stegall holds virtually every team receiving record for the Blue Bombers, including career catches, career receiving yards, career touchdown receptions, single-season receiving yards, and single-season touchdown receptions. He is also the club’s all-time leader in yards from scrimmage ahead of Canadian Football Hall of Fame running backs Charles Roberts and Leo Lewis.
The 53-year-old was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2002 and remains one of only four receivers to win the award this century. He was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2009 and was a first-ballot inductee into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
The native of Cincinnati, Ohio has been a panelist for the CFL on TSN since his retirement. He and his wife, Darlene, have two sons and reside in Atlanta, Ga.
Stegall will be inducted alongside long-distance runner Chris Glowach, swimmer Kelly Stefanyshyn, builder Brent Bottomley, builder Alex Gardiner, and the Terry Braunstein curling team. The induction ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.
