One of the CFL's best linebackers of the past decade is calling it a career. Larry Dean is retiring after eight seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Dean started his professional football career in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings (2011-2013), and he spent 2014 with the Buffalo Bills. Dean had a stop with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 as well, but he did not play. He finished his NFL career with 37 total tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 61 games.
In 2016, Dean joined the Tiger-Cats, and he remained in Hamilton for three seasons. He was named CFL East All-Star in 2017 and 2018 and was also selected for the league’s All-Star team in 2018. That same year, he was named as the East Division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018.
He next spent one year with Edmonton, where he made 89 total tackles and one sack and was named as an CFL West All-Star.
Saskatchewan was his home for his final three years in the league. An Achilles injury cost him the 2021 season, but he recorded 100-plus tackle seasons in both 2022 and 2023. The 35-year-old was selected as an CFL East All-Star last season after posting 104 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble in 18 games.
Dean finishes his CFL career with 108 regular-season game appearances, making 570 defensive tackles, 15 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, seven interceptions and eight forced fumbles. He ranks 25th all-time in the CFL in defensive tackles.
The Riders will not be saying goodbye to Dean, however, as he will be the team’s new Player Personnel Coordinator in Football Operations.
While he played fewer than 10 seasons, Dean should be considered for the Hall of Fame as one of the best linebackers to play in Canada.
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