On Friday, veteran defensive lineman and future CFL Hall of Famer Charleston Hughes announced his retirement on X (formerly Twitter) after a 15-year career in the CFL.
Charleston Hughes is six foot one and weighs 246 pounds. The 40-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, last played in 2022 for the Saskatchewan Roughriders with 11 tackles, four sacks, and three forced fumbles in 12 games.
Before Saskatchewan, Hughes played ten seasons with the Calgary Stampeders with 372 tackles, 99 sacks, three interceptions, one touchdown, 23 forced fumbles, and 38 tackles on special teams in 147 games. Hughes won two Grey Cup championships in 2008 and 2014.
In 2018, Hughes signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played two seasons with 85 tackles, 31 sacks, two touchdowns, and seven forced fumbles in 34 games. The Roughriders acquired Hughes in a trade from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for draft picks.
After the season was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hughes signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2021 with 18 tackles, two sacks, and one tackle on special teams in 12 games. In addition to the CFL, Hughes was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.
Hughes is a six-time CFL All-Star (2012-13, 2016-19), an eight-time CFL West All-Star (2010, 2012-19), four-time CFL sack leader (2013, 2016, 2018-19), and won the 2013 Norm Fieldgate Trophy for the best defensive player.
Collegiately, Hughes played four seasons at Northwood University (2003-06) with 372 tackles (259 solo, 113 assists), 36 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and two blocked punts in 46 games for the Timberwolves.
