Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo celebrates during first quarter Canadian Football League action Friday, July 15, 2011 in Montreal.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
Post-career accolades are inevitable when you've had a career as illustrious the one we're talking about; the first major one will take place on Oct. 13.
It's a fitting day on the calendar for the Montreal Alouettes to retire Anthony Calvillo's jersey No. 13, the fact it falls on Turkey Day makes it all the more fitting: the Als and their fans should indeed pause and give thanks to the kid from East Los Angeles.
He may have played for two other CFL teams – the unlamented Las Vegas Posse and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – but it's in Montreal that he became a legend.
The resume, you know: pro football's all-time leader in yardage and completed passes, the CFL record-holder in passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts, three Grey Cup rings (and eight appearances overall), three-time most outstanding player in the CFL.
He's already got the key to the city, now his jersey number will hang from the rafters, and he'll be enshrined in the CFL Hall of Fame at the earliest opportunity (who knows, he might even get into the one in Canton, Ohio).
"Having my number 13 retired . . . is an incredible privilege," Calvillo said in a press release (in which the team contrived to misspell Hall of Famer Sam 'The Rifle' Etcheverry's surname). "I consider myself very fortunate to have been surrounded by so many talented individuals throughout my career. Without the contributions from (general-manager) Jim Popp, those exceptional coaches and my great teammates, none of this would have been possible."
Calvillo, who retired after the 2013 season, has been a fixture at Als games this season – he and his family live in Montreal year-round – and has said he wants to go into coaching.
That will almost certainly happen next season at Percival Molson Stadium, but in the meantime there are still honours to be doled out for his extraordinary career.
Calvillo's jersey will be the 10th retired by the Alouettes. The others include Herb Trawick (No. 56), Virgil Wagner (No. 78), Etcheverry (No. 72), Hal Patterson (No. 75), George Dixon (No. 28), Pierre Desjardins (No. 63), Dalla Riva (No. 74), Junior Ah You (No. 77) and Pringle (No. 27).