Richard Danny Klassen was a defensive lineman who played in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions from 1981 to 1987 and again in 1989 and 1990, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1988.
18 Facts About Rick Klassen
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In 2003, Rick Klassen was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at defensive tackle, as part of the team's 50th season anniversary celebration.
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Rick Klassen was recruited by Simon Fraser University as a running back from Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack, BC, and played his four years of college football with the Clan.
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Rick Klassen chose to play his football at SFU because, during the 1970s, it was considered the best football school in Canada and has produced over 160 football players who have gone on to play pro football.
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Rick Klassen spent the rest of his three years at SFU at offensive guard.
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Rick Klassen was drafted in 1981 as an offensive guard by the British Columbia Lions as a territorial draft pick.
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Eight games into the 1981 CFL season, head coach Vic Rapp saw Klassen's potential on the defensive side of the ball and he switched him to defensive tackle after defensive lineman Rick Goltz sustained a season-ending injury.
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The next week in Edmonton, Rick Klassen played in his first ever Western Final.
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In 1984 when Matthews, former Edmonton defensive co-ordinator, traded for James "Quick" Parker from the Eskimos, Rick Klassen again switched positions.
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Rick Klassen was put back inside at defensive tackle, where he stayed for the rest of his CFL career.
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Rick Klassen played in two Grey Cup games during the BC Lions' glory years in the mid-1980s, where he played the two best games of his CFL career.
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Rick Klassen was a force at defensive end during the 1983 Grey Cup, earning 2.5 sacks and the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian honours.
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Two years later, Rick Klassen was given another shot at winning the Grey Cup.
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Rick Klassen again played an outstanding game at defensive tackle, pressuring and sacking Hamilton quarterback Ken Hobart twice during the game to earn what would be his only Grey Cup championship, however his heroic effort at Olympic Stadium was overshadowed by the play of James "Quick" Parker, who was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence.
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Rick Klassen finished his CFL career second all-time in Grey Cup sacks with 4.5, only behind Tyrone Jones.
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In 1988, after spending the first seven seasons of his career with BC, Rick Klassen was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the off-season after Galat was hired.
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Rick Klassen returned to his home in BC for his final two season with the Lions.
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Rick Klassen announced his retirement after the 1990 CFL season.