Chip Cox had been chatting virtually with the media for about 15 minutes when he took a moment to compose himself. “It’s a difficult subject,” he admitted.
Updated yesterday at 6:20 p.m.
The legendary Alouettes linebacker, who has just been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, believes he “never took [s]retired”.
“I never signed a paper that said I was done playing,” Cox said, sitting in a gym near a nine-hole golf course, two businesses he runs with his wife in Columbus. in Ohio.
His career ended in 2018, of course. But that season, he was “the most productive linebacker on the team,” he explains. The one who “had defended the most one-on-one passes”. The one with “the fewest missed tackles”.
When I left Montreal, I still thought I was going to play football. This is the truth.
Chip Cox
It wasn’t until late last year that he finally came to terms with his career being well and truly over. In the meantime, he has been unable to watch Alouettes or even CFL games. Because he felt he was still able to play.
“It was too difficult to watch, comments the one who is now 39 years old. In the first game I attempted to watch, the guy playing at my position missed more tackles than I had missed in my entire last season. […] It was really frustrating. »
But Cox does not want to “tell a tearful story”. His life makes him “happy”. He is “satisfied” with it. And, most importantly, he “greatly appreciates” the honor bestowed on him by the CFL.
“I am speechless,” he concedes. Because I was ignored [overlooked] not bad all my life. And my career ended the same way. So when the call came, I said to myself that finally, I had not been ignored. My hard work finally paid off. »
And the realization went even further than that. Because “people not only paid attention”, “they also appreciated” what he accomplished.
For the love of Montreal
The fiery number 11 played 13 seasons in the CFL. All with the Alouettes. He had 926 tackles, 32 quarterback sacks and 23 interceptions. He was named the Canadian League’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2013. Statistics and honors that add to his two Gray Cups won with the team, in 2009 and 2010.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Chip Cox with the Alouettes in 2016
Is there a moment that the American thinks defines his professional stint north of the border?
He responds by talking about the 2017 season as a whole.
“It was probably the worst season of my career. I played injured all season. But it showed all my commitment to Montreal.
“I wasn’t invested in anyone. Not even towards my career, because I played by putting it in danger. I didn’t play for myself, but for the team. »
Cox is referring here to a knee injury that hampered him from the third game of the season. He ended up suffering a torn ligament near the end of the schedule.
“I didn’t care about looking bad on video. It didn’t even cross my mind, because I really loved this sport, and this city. »
“Reconnect”… and eat well
Although he has only returned to Montreal once since 2018, Cox still has a deep attachment to the metropolis. As well as his supporters.
“Through the years, and even when we weren’t winning, they were always there to encourage us,” recalls the former linebacker. It was fantastic. No one has ever disrespected me.
“I who have the impression of having always been ignored, I liked feeling accepted by the supporters. To know that they had an attachment for me. »
Cox will be back in Montreal for Friday night’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Percival-Molson Stadium. He can’t wait to “reconnect” with fans.
And to find his “four or five restaurants” favorites.
“I can guarantee you that I will gain 10 lbs in Montreal by visiting all my restaurants! laughs the new CFL immortal.