Former Lions defensive lineman Rick Klassen dies at age 57

Rick Klassen, the former BC Lions defensive lineman and most valuable Canadian in the 1983 Grey Cup, has died after a battle with cancer.

He was 57 years old.

Klassen spent nine of his ten seasons wearing the Lions uniform, and had a brief one-year stint with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Lions announced Klassen's death Saturday via Twitter.

Klassen left his mark on the Lions franchise, as he was voted to the team's All-Time Dream Team in 2003, and was added to the team's Wall of Fame in 2007 as a part of the 1985 Grey Cup championship team.