Calgary Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes has announced that he will retire from the Canadian Football League at the end of the 2026 season, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 15-year career with the club.
The 41-year-old made the announcement Tuesday, saying he had made the decision that the current season would be his last.
“This wasn't easy, but I've made the decision that this season will be my last,” Paredes said.
He added that playing for Calgary had been an honour and that he wanted to finish the season strongly while thanking the people who had influenced his career.
Paredes spent entire CFL career with Calgary
Paredes joined the Stampeders as a free agent in 2011 and has remained with the organization throughout his professional career.
That makes him Calgary's longest-serving active player and one of the most accomplished kickers in franchise history. He currently ranks second in Stampeders history in seasons played, games, points, field goals and converts.
His career numbers include:
- 253 regular-season games
- 2,535 points
- 649 field goals
- 547 converts
- 59 singles
- 87.7% field-goal success rate
- 94.6% convert success rate
He has also produced 13 walk-off field goals, with his most recent coming September 19, when he connected from a career-long 62 yards at McMahon Stadium.
Two-time Grey Cup champion
Paredes has been an important part of two Grey Cup-winning Calgary teams, helping the Stampeders lift the championship trophy in 2014 and 2018.
He has appeared in five Grey Cup games during his career, converting all 11 of his field-goal attempts and nine of 10 converts.
He was also named the CFL's Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2013 and has earned six All-West Division and All-CFL selections.
Paredes has served as a team captain 12 times, reflecting his long-standing leadership role within the organization.
A remarkable record of consistency
Paredes has built his reputation largely through his reliability.
He became the first player in CFL history to record four separate seasons with at least a 90% field-goal success rate. He has since reached that mark seven times and is on course to achieve it again in 2026.
His consistency continued despite an injury that forced him to miss the first 10 games of the 2026 season.
Before that absence, Paredes had played 247 consecutive games, a streak that ranked eighth in CFL history.
Final regular-season game set for October 17
Paredes still has football ahead of him before his retirement becomes official.
His final regular-season game is scheduled for October 17, when the Stampeders host the BC Lions at McMahon Stadium.
The Stampeders will now look to finish the season strongly while giving one of the longest-serving players in franchise history an opportunity to close his career in front of Calgary supporters.
After 15 seasons with the same organization, Paredes' retirement will mark the end of one of the longest and most successful kicking careers in modern CFL football.
