CFL Calgary Stampeders

Childress Retires

Published on May 18, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


(Calgary) – Today the Calgary Stampeder Football Club announced the official retirement of veteran Stampeder Offensive Lineman Fred Childress. One of Fred's most memorable moments came at the end of the 1998 season; He played in all 18 regular season games, the west final and the Grey Cup. In his 3rd season Fred was named Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the CFL for the first time in his career. The Stampeders would go on to win their 4th championship in Stampeder history and the first of two Grey Cup rings for Fred.

Fred Childress # 68

Offensive Guard

College: University of Arkansas

HT: 6'5" WT: 330 lbs

Born: September 17, 1966

Birthplace: West Helena, Arkansas

Residence: Calgary, Alberta

CFL Experience – 10 seasons

Games Played: Regular Season – 151; Semi-Final – 4; West Final – 5; Grey Cup - 3

Stampeder Experience: 8 seasons

Games Played: Regular Season – 123; West Semi-Final – 3; West Final – 5; Grey Cup- 3

Import

PRO

Has played in 151 regular season career CFL games ... 9 playoff games ... including 5 West Finals and 2 Grey Cup games ... has played in 98 career regular season games as a Stampeder ...re-signed a new contract with the Stampeders on April 3, 2002 ... his professional career began in 1989 as a second round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals ... waived prior to the start of the season ... had stints with the Los Angeles Raiders, New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns ... before signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1994 ... was transferred to the Shreveport Pirates in 1994 ... playing in 12 games with the expansion Pirates ...1995 played with the Birmingham Barracudas ... and in 1996 signed with the Stampeders as a free agent ...represented the West as the League's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 1997 and 1998 ... being named the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the CFL for his outstanding play in 1998 ... signed with the Dallas Cowboys in the off-season prior to the start of the 1999 season ... was released by the Cowboys in September ... re-joined the Stampeders on September 14, 1999 ... has made the West Division All-Star team 6 times in his career ... was named to the CFLPA's All-Star team in 2000 for the fifth consecutive season.

2003

Childress would start the season in fine form ... playing in the first 8 regular season games ... however on August 8 vs the B.C. Lions Fred would leave the game with a lower back injury ... this injury ended the season for Fred missing the next 10 games.

2002

Played in 17 regular season games ... missed his first ever start with the Stampeders Week 2 in Regina against the Roughriders ... sidelined for one game with an injury to his leg that was sustained late in the fourth quarter in the opening game loss to the Edmonton Eskimos ... once again was a key component in running back Kelvin Anderson setting a new CFL record of 7 consecutive seasons of 1,000 yards rushing and it's no coincidence that "Big Chill" and Anderson have been teamed together for those 7 campaigns.

2001

Played in 18 regular season games ... the West Semi-Final ... West Final and the Grey Cup Championship ... capturing his second Grey Cup ring with the 27-19 win over the Bombers ... at training camp was moved from the guard position to the tackle position ...was one of the real leaders this season for the Red and White ... was named team captain at the start of the season by his teammates ... was named to the West Division All-Star team for the 6th time in his career ... once again a key factor in running back Kelvin Anderson recording his 6th consecutive 1,000 yard season.

2000

Played in all 18 regular season games ... plus the Western Final against the B.C. Lions ... was named the team's representative as their Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman ... for the third time in five seasons ... was named to the Division All-Star team for the fifth time in his career ... once again a key factor in running back Kelvin Anderson rushing for his 5th consecutive 1,000 yard season ... once again with teammate Thomas Rayam was used on defence in 3rd and short situations as well on long field goal attempts by the opposing team .

1999

Played in 8 regular season games ... both playoff games and the 1999 Grey Cup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats ... stabilized the play of the offensive line after returning from the Dallas Cowboys ... was one of the last cuts of the NFL team ... once back in the line-up he continually opened holes for running back Kelvin Anderson ... enroute to his 4th consecutive 1,000 yard season ... joined the team for the 11th game of the regular season.

1998

Played in 18 regular season games ... the West Final and the Grey Cup ... the third year Stampeder had an outstanding season ... being named the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the CFL for the first time in his career ... it was the second consecutive season that he represented the West as the top "O" lineman ... anchored an offensive line that produced it's third consecutive 1,000 yard rusher in Kelvin Anderson ... on September 11 in Edmonton entered the game for one play on defense with the Stampeder jumbo unit ... he plugged the hole and prevented Eskimo quarterback David Archer from converting the third down gamble late in the game ... sealing the Stampeder victory ... being named All-Canadian for the third straight season.

1997

At the start of the season was moved to strong side guard ... was named All-Canadian for the third straight year ... represented the West as the league's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman ... game in and game out provided quarterback Jeff Garcia with great protection and running back Kelvin Anderson with gapping holes.

1996

Signed with the Stampeders as a free agent ... started every game at tackle ... named All-Canadian for the first time in his career.

1995

Played all 18 regular season games with the Birmingham Barracudas ... named to the Southern Division All-Star team at offensive tackle.

1994

Originally signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent in March ... spent the season with the Shreveport Pirates ... earning his teams nomination as both Outstanding Player and Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

COLLEGE

A four-year player at the University of Arkansas ... actually began his freshman year as a defensive lineman ... selected as a 2nd team All-American by the Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft and College and Pro Football Weekly as a senior in 1988.

NOTEWORTHY

Lives year round in Calgary with his family.

CFL NOTES

Fred has recorded 6 defensive tackles in his CFL career ... Southern All-Star in 1995 ... Western Division All-Star in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2001 ... All-Canadian in 1996, 1997 and 1998 ... winner of the DeMarco-Beckett Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Lineman in the West in 1997 and 1998 ... runner-up for the CFL Chrysler Most Outstanding Lineman in 1997... winner of the CFL Chrysler Most Outstanding Lineman in 1998.

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Canadian Football League Stories from May 18, 2004


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