43 Facts About Andy Fantuz

Andrew Fantuz was born on December 18,1983 and is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver.

Andy Fantuz spent the majority of his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Andy Fantuz played for the Riders for six seasons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft.

Andy Fantuz played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.

Andy Fantuz attended John McGregor Secondary School from 1997 to 2002, where he played football and basketball.

Andy Fantuz played for the Essex County Ravens of the Ontario Varsity Football League.

Andy Fantuz attended the University of Western Ontario from 2002 to 2005, where he established himself as one of the best receivers in Canadian Interuniversity Sport history.

Andy Fantuz was awarded the CIS Rookie of the year award in 2002 with 1300 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Andy Fantuz won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in the CIS in 2005, finishing with 44 catches for 825 yards to become only the fifth receiver to win the award and first since Calgary's Don Blair in 1995.

Andy Fantuz finished his university career as the OUA and CIS leader with 189 receptions for 4,123 yards and 41 touchdown receptions.

Andy Fantuz was a four-time CIS all-Canadian and four-time OUA all-star while being named to the first-team all-Canadian in 2002,2004, and 2005.

On January 21,2006, Andy Fantuz represented Eastern Canada in the East-West Shrine Game which showcases the best college talent in the United States and with invitees from Canada.

Andy Fantuz was integrated slowly into the Roughriders offence in 2006, and caught his first pass against Toronto on July 22,2006.

Andy Fantuz made his first start against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in week 10 and started the last nine games of the season as well as two playoff games.

Andy Fantuz scored his first touchdown in a bizarre play against the BC Lions on September 24,2006.

Andy Fantuz promptly jumped on the ball in the endzone, culminating in his first CFL touchdown, which counted as a rushing touchdown by CFL rules.

Incidentally, the same game would go into overtime, with Andy Fantuz catching his first touchdown reception and winning the game for the Roughriders, meaning that he got his first rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

Andy Fantuz had his first 100-yard receiving game in week 20 against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Andy Fantuz finished the season with 30 catches for 408 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown.

On November 30,2006, Andy Fantuz agreed to a two-year plus an option contract.

Andy Fantuz finished the season just short of 1,000 yards with 978 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Andy Fantuz was the Roughriders' nomination for Most Outstanding Canadian.

In three playoff games, Andy Fantuz had 16 catches for 263 yards and two touchdowns, including four catches for 70 yards and one touchdown in the 95th Grey Cup.

In 2008, Andy Fantuz had an excellent start to the season with 24 catches for 328 yards and was on pace for his first 1000-yard season.

Andy Fantuz was placed on the nine-game injured list and did not return until week 18 versus the Edmonton Eskimos.

Andy Fantuz attempted one deep pass to Weston Dressler but was intercepted in a game versus Hamilton.

Andy Fantuz had two catches for 39 yards in the Roughriders' West-Semi Final loss to the BC Lions.

Once again, Andy Fantuz had a good start to the season, on pace for just under 1000 receiving yards, with 219 yards and one touchdown, but was injured in the week four match-up with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Andy Fantuz returned for the Banjo Bowl against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and caught two passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, which was thrown by fellow receiver, Jason Armstead, on a gadget play.

Andy Fantuz had an outstanding outing in the overtime game against the Calgary Stampeders, contributing 10 catches for a season-high 149 yards and a game-tying touchdown.

Andy Fantuz had another dominant game against the Stampeders in the final game of the season with 12 catches for 123 yards, which was the highest reception total by a Roughrider since Curtis Marsh had 13 in 2001.

Andy Fantuz finished the season with a career-high 67 receptions for 882 yards and three touchdowns and was tied with Chris Getzlaf for the team lead in two-point conversions with two.

On October 15,2009, Andy Fantuz stated that he had verbally agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Roughriders, but would examine his NFL options before February 15,2009.

On February 12,2010, it was officially announced that Andy Fantuz had re-signed with the Roughriders.

On February 4,2011, Andy Fantuz signed a future contract with the Chicago Bears for the 2011 NFL season.

In two preseason games with the Bears, Andy Fantuz recorded two receptions for 19 yards.

On September 7,2011 Andy Fantuz rejoined the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played his first game of the season on September 11 making 2 catches for 47 yards.

On February 17,2012, Andy Fantuz signed a four-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Andy Fantuz missed a significant portion of the 2015 season with an injury.

Andy Fantuz set a personal best for most receptions in a season when he caught 101 in 17 games during the 2016 CFL season.

Andy Fantuz announced his retirement from professional football on July 19,2018.

On May 18,2017, it was announced that Andy Fantuz had re-joined the Tiger-Cats, but in an administrative role as the team's player development coordinator.

Andy Fantuz returned to a playing role, re-signing with the team, on September 18,2017.