Ottawa Redblacks defensive back Ty Cranston announced his retirement on Friday after a six-year CFL career.
“It was everything I ever could have wanted as a kid growing up watching the CFL,” Cranston said. “Professional sport is something I wanted to do, and I kind of fell into football and ran with it. It was pretty special as a Canadian kid getting to play in the CFL for as long as I did.”
Ty Cranston is six foot three and weighs 205 pounds. The 30-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, re-signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on January 2, 2024. In 2024, he made seven tackles and five tackles on special teams in 12 games.
The Montreal Alouettes drafted Cranston in the seventh round (56th pick) in the 2017 CFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Alouettes with 38 tackles, 24 tackles on special teams, and one interception in 35 games for Montreal.
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Cranston on February 8, 2022. In 2022, he made three tackles and 17 tackles on special teams in 10 games. He re-signed with the Redblacks on December 7, 2022. In 2023, he made one tackle, 14 tackles on special teams, and one interception in 18 games.
“Ottawa has been my home on and off for the past 13 years,” Cranston said. “It has become my home, and I got a chance to play in front of close friends and my new family with my wife. Being embedded in the city full time as a player in the community and on the field was pretty special.”
Collegiately, Cranston played five seasons at the University of Ottawa (2013-17) with 159 tackles (133 solos, 52 assists), six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and two blocked punts in 38 games for the Gee-Gees.
