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MONTREAL, Quebec — BYU wide receivers coach Ben Cahoon finished his 13-year career in the Canadian Football League as the all-time receptions leader, making his No. 86 iconic in Montreal Alouettes lore.
Now no future Montreal player will ever wear that jersey.
With crowds chanting Cahoon’s name Friday, the Alouettes retired the CFL Hall of Famer’s jersey at halftime of the team’s 41-3 win over Saskatchewan, joining former Utah State standout Anthony Calvillo.
Calvillo and Cahoon formed the backbone of Montreal’s glory days during the former BYU receiver’s career. The two led the Alouettes to three Grey Cup titles and became arguably the CFL’s best-ever pass-catch combo.
“It was just chemistry and trust,” said Cahoon of his relationship with Calvillo, who is now the Alouettes’ offensive coordinator. “My job was to be where he expected me to be, and he did a great job of throwing it in the hole. It was a relationship that started on the scout team my rookie year, and we formed a bond of trust. I was lucky when it was third and medium, he looked my way.”
Cahoon retired in 2010 after 224 games in Canada, where he registered 1,017 receptions for 13,301 yards and 65 touchdowns. He had nine seasons with more than 1,000 yards, and won three Grey Cup titles, including Most Outstanding Canadian honors in 2003 and 2009.
On Jan. 26, 2011, Cahoon announced his retirement from professional football. He joined former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall’s staff as wide receivers coach in 2011, then returned under new coach Kalani Sitake on Jan. 20, 2016.
Surrounded by his wife, the former Kimberli Herbert and their four daughters, Cahoon addressed the sell-out crowd of Alouettes fans at halftime and even attempted a few remarks in French, though he joked it isn’t the best for the Utah native with French Canadian heritage.
“The success over the years has had so much to do with how the fans accepted and embrace us,” Cahoon said. “As I have had time to reflect over my career, I recognize I’ve been blessed with every single ingredient that is necessary to be successful on the football field and in life. I had parents who believed in me, I had extended family, a wonderful wife and children who support and inspired. I had coaches and mentors who taught and provided opportunity. I had teammates who worked and pushed each other, and picked one another up when it was needed.
“Maybe most importantly, I had the greatest fans on the planet. They had high expectations, they were demanding, but they were quick to reward ethic and good work.”
A native of Orem, Cahoon was a junior college All-American at Ricks College in 1993-94 before playing his final two seasons at BYU. He was a team captain on the 1996 BYU team that went 14-1 and finished No. 5 in the nation, and started every game in 1997 while leading the team with 931 yards on 57 catches.
During his first stint as a coach at BYU, Cahoon helped mentor Cody Hoffman, who became BYU’s all-time leader in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Hoffman is currently a wide receiver with the Alouettes’ practice squad.
“I would like to thank the Alouette organization for this incredible honor,” Cahoon said. “This is a very humbling experience; we’re grateful to be here.”
