 | |
| Born: | (1973-04-06)April 6, 1973 (age 51) Montego Bay, Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | WR |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 193 lb (88 kg) |
| College | Minnesota |
| CFL draft | 1998, round: 2, pick: 9 |
| Drafted by | BC Lions |
| NFL draft | 1998, round: 7, pick: 215 |
| Drafted by | San Francisco 49ers |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1998 | San Francisco 49ers* |
| 1998 | San Diego Chargers |
| 1999 | Seattle Seahawks* |
| 1999 | Jacksonville Jaguars* |
| 1999 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2000 | New Orleans Saints* |
| 2001 | Denver Broncos* |
| 2001–2006 | BC Lions |
| 2007–2010 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 2011 | BC Lions |
| *Offseason and/or practice squad member only[1] | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL West All-Star | 2004,2005 |
| Career stats | |
| Receptions-receiving yards (NFL) | 16-268 |
| Receiving touchdowns (NFL) | 1 |
| Receptions-receiving yards (CFL) | 436-6,670 |
| Receiving touchdowns (CFL) | 39 |
| |
Ryan Thelwell (born April 6, 1973) is aJamaican-Canadian former professionalwide receiver ofAmerican football andCanadian football. Thelwell was originally drafted 9th overall by the Lions in the1998 CFL Draft and by theSan Francisco 49ers of theNational Football League (NFL) in the1998 NFL draft in the seventh round with the 215th overall pick.[2] Thelwell playedcollege football with theUniversity of Minnesota.
Thelwell was born inMontego Bay,Jamaica and grew up inLondon,Ontario,Canada.[3][4] He graduated fromLondon Catholic Central High School in 1993 and played on the football, volleyball, basketball, and track teams.[4] Thelwell attended theUniversity of Minnesota. After redshirting a year, Thelwell played wide receiver on theMinnesota Golden Gophers football team from 1994 to 1997 seasons. In 7 games in his freshman season (1994), Thelwell caught 24 passes (including 3 touchdowns) for 406 yards and had a long reception of 80. In 1995, Thelwell caught 58 passes for 775 yards and 6 touchdowns. In 1996, Thelwell made 54 catches for 1,051 yards and 5 touchdowns.[5] He was a second-team All-Big Ten Conference media selection and honorable mention all-Big Ten coaches' selection.
Thelwell was drafted 215th overall by theSan Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the1998 NFL draft, but failed to stick with the team following training camp.[6] He then signed with theSan Diego Chargers and played in six games, starting three. He caught his first pass of the season against theBaltimore Ravens on November 15, 1998, and scored his first and only touchdown of the season on December 27 in the season finale against theArizona Cardinals.[7] Thelwell caught a crucial, 30-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-20 with 16 seconds left that would tie the game at 13 after the extra point. However, San Diego would lose 16–13.[8] Only Thelwell caught more passes than Arizona linebackerKwamie Lassiter intercepted passes from San Diego quarterbackCraig Whelihan.[9] One of Lassiter's interceptions bounced off Thelwell's hands.[10] For the 1998 season with San Diego, Thelwell caught 16 passes for 268 yards.[7] He signed with thePittsburgh Steelers thefollowing season.
Having been drafted 9th overall by theBC Lions, Thelwell signed with the defendingGrey Cup champions on June 6, 2001.[11] Thelwell would go on to play the next six seasons with the Lions, accumulating 335 receptions for 4981 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was named aWest Division All-Star in2004 and2005, while recording his first 1000-yard season in 2005. He saw a drop-off in production in2006 with 625 receiving yards, he was a key contributor in the playoffs, recording nine catches for 83 yards, leading to a Lions' win in the94th Grey Cup.
Following his Grey Cup win, Thelwell became a free agent and elected to sign with theCalgary Stampeders on February 16, 2007. Over four seasons in Calgary, he caught 106 passes for 1747 yards and nine touchdowns. He played in the Stampeders96th Grey Cup victory over theMontreal Alouettes, the same team that lost to the Lions in 2006. On January 25, 2011, Thelwell announced his retirement from professional football.[12][13]
Due to an injury sustained byAkeem Foster, the Lions brought Thelwell out of retirement and signed him on October 25, 2011.[14] Thelwell was on the 46-man roster when the team won the99th Grey Cup, earning him his third Grey Cup championship in six seasons. Almost immediately after the win, Thelwell again announced his retirement on December 1, 2011.[15]
Thelwell moved toLondon, Ontario with his parents when he was four years old.
Thelwell also made an appearance at the William Aberhart Trojans 2007 football banquet in Calgary on November 16, 2007. Thelwell was inducted into the City of London Sports Hall of Fame in November 2015.
He is married with four kids.
