Stuart Laird (born July 8, 1960) is a former professional

Canadian football Canadian football () is a sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's scoring area ( ...

defensive tackle who played thirteen seasons for the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ...

(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. 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. In 2001, five years after he retired from the CFL, Laird was elected the eighth President of the

Canadian Football League Players' Association The Canadian Football League Players' Association (or CFLPA) represents Canadian football players in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The association was established in 1965, when local lawyer John Agro became concerned by the number of Hamilton ...

, serving until 2012. 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. On July 3, 2020 Laird was selected to the TSN CFL2020 Calgary Stampeder All-Time team. In 2022 Laird was selected by 3rd Down Nation as the "Greatest CFL player" ever from the University of Calgary. Laird worked as a full-time firefighter, promoted to the position of Battalion Chief with the Calgary Fire Department before retiring in 2020.

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External links

* * https://www.tsn.ca/doug-flutie-jon-cornish-highlight-cfl2020-s-all-time-calgary-stampeders-roster-inactive-1.1491769 * https://3downnation.com/2022/08/25/campus-goats-every-canada-west-schools-greatest-cfl-nfl-player-of-all-time/ 1960 births Living people Canadian football defensive linemen Calgary Dinos football players Calgary Stampeders players People from Assiniboia, Saskatchewan Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan {{Canadianfootball-defensive-lineman-stub