Brandon Banks signs one-day contract to retire with Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Photo: Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Brandon Banks has signed a one-day contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to officially retire as a member of the team, the club announced on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old last played in 2022 as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, when he helped them beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 109th Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

The diminutive speedster was honoured by the Tiger-Cats at a regular-season game the following year, though he told the local media at the time that he was hoping to play a little bit longer. Two years later, he told CHCH Sportsline that he was retired.

Banks played for Hamilton from 2013 to 2021 as a receiver and return specialist, becoming one of the most impactful players in franchise history.

The native of Raleigh, N.C. remains the club’s all-time franchise leader in kickoff return yards (3,773), punt return yards (3,049), missed field goal return yards (779), and missed field goal return touchdowns (five). He also ranks second in total touchdowns (62), combined yards (13,686), and punt return touchdowns (seven).

Banks was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2019, the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2015, a four-time All-CFL selection, and a six-time All-East Division selection.

The Kansas State University product moved to Hamilton last year where he’s started a business training young athletes and hosting football camps. He’s also indicated that he volunteers at the high school level.

Banks will be on-hand on Thursday night when the Tiger-Cats open their regular-season schedule against the Montreal Alouettes.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-0) will host the Montreal Alouettes (0-0) at Hamilton Stadium on Thursday, June 4 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes are coming off a Grey Cup loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Tiger-Cats lost last year’s East Final to Montreal.

The weather forecast in Hamilton calls for a high of 26 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 690 in Montreal and Ticats Audio Network in Hamilton.