Darian Durant retires after 12 CFL seasons

Veteran quarterback Darian Durant announced his retirement from the CFL on Friday after a 12-year career.

"To CFL, my former teammates, coaches, and to all the guys I’ve battled against over the past 12 years: I just want to say thank you. Thank you for helping me develop into the man I am today. So many life lessons have been learnt throughout this football journey. With that being said, I have decided to retire from football," Durant wrote on his website.

The longtime Saskatchewan Roughriders pivot was signed to a one-year contract by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in late January, which followed his release from the Montreal Alouettes after just one season.

Originally from Florence, S.C., Durant broke into the CFL with the Roughriders in 2006 and played for the team through the end of the 2016 campaign, winning two Grey Cups in the process.

His career comes to an end with 31,740 passing yards, 167 touchdowns, and 115 interceptions across 134 games played. He added another 3,104 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

"Last but not least, to my fans in Ridernation: If you cut me open, I am sure that I would bleed green. Saskatchewan and Regina will always be home. I always strived to be a Rider legend," Durant added.

"I named my daughter Amayah Taylor, after Taylor Field. It meant so much to me to be able to play in the last game at 'old' Mosaic Stadium. It’s also very fitting to me that I played the last game of career in Regina last fall, and was able to see and hear the fans one last time from the playing field. I look forward to one day showing my family around Regina, and showing my daughter where her father won a championship in front of Ridernation on 'Taylor' Field."