Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
American quarterback Matthew Shiltz has signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Shiltz spent two seasons with the Tiger-Cats from 2022-23, appearing in 28 games and completing 193-of-280 pass attempts for 2,491 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed 51 times for 312 yards and two touchdowns. He originally announced his retirement on social media in December 2025.
“Hamilton felt like a second home to me. Coming here, it’s where I really felt I settled down as a player and as a man,” Shiltz said in a statement. “There was something different about this place and something different about playing in front of the fans that always stuck with me. To the Ticats fans, thank you for welcoming me in. This place will always have a special place in my heart.”
The six-foot-one, 210-pound QB spent his final three-down league season with the Ottawa Redblacks following one year with the Calgary Stampeders, two with Hamilton and four with the Montreal Alouettes. The 33-year-old dressed for 106 CFL games in his career, completing 401-of-626 passes (64 percent) for 5,078 yards with 22 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. The St. Charles, Ill. native has also rushed 124 times for 789 yards and six majors.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats opened training camp on May 10. Hamilton will play its two preseason games against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, May 23, and Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, June 4.
Hamilton recently selected Louisiana Tech offensive lineman Jonathan Denis with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding depth up front. The team’s other major offseason additions include quarterback Tre Ford, receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and linebacker Wynton McManis.
In 2025, the Tiger-Cats finished first in the East Division standings with an 11-7 record, though the team lost the East Final to the Montreal Alouettes.
