Ryan Kenneth Hunter (born April 1, 1995) is a Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL).
 Hunter with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 | |||||||
| No. 62 – Toronto Argonauts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive lineman | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | April 1, 1995 North Bay, Ontario, Canada | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 316 lb (143 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Canisius (Buffalo, New York) | ||||||
| College: | Bowling Green | ||||||
| CFL draft: | 2018 / round: 1 / pick: 9 | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2018 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| CFL status: | National | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Career CFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||
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Early life
editHunter is from North Bay, Ontario. He moved to Buffalo, New York, during high school. He attended Canisius High School, and played for the school's football team. He was named the best offensive lineman in Western New York, and shared 2012 The Buffalo News Player of the Year Award with teammate Qadree Ollison.[1]
College career
editHunter then attended Bowling Green State University, and played college football for the Bowling Green Falcons. He took a redshirt in his first year, and then played in 52 games for his next four years. He started all 12 games of his junior year at right tackle, and all 12 games in his senior year at left tackle.[1]
Professional career
editAfter not getting selected in the 2018 NFL draft, Hunter was drafted by Toronto Argonauts as the final pick (9th overall) of the first round of 2018 CFL Draft[2] but did not sign a contract with the team.
Kansas City Chiefs
editInstead, Hunter signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.[3] Hunter spent the 2018 season on the Chiefs' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster in 2019.[4] After a loss, the Chiefs released Hunter, but they re-signed him to the practice squad. He was again promoted to the active roster, and was on the active roster for Super Bowl LIV in which the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31–20.[5][6] He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020.[7]
Los Angeles Chargers
editOn October 1, 2020, Hunter was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.[8] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 5, 2021.[9]
On August 31, 2021, Hunter was waived by the Chargers and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[10][11] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 11, 2022.[12]
On August 30, 2022, Hunter was waived by the Chargers.[13]
Toronto Argonauts
editOn September 23, 2022, it was announced that Hunter had signed with the Toronto Argonauts.[14] He played in five regular season games in 2022 and started in two. He also started in both of the team's post-season games that year, including his first Grey Cup game, where the Argonauts defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 109th Grey Cup game.[15]
In 2023, Hunter played and started in 18 regular season games and also started in the team's East Final loss to the Montreal Alouettes.[15] In the 2024 season, he dressed in 17 regular season games, starting 16, and moved to left tackle following the injury to Isiah Cage midway through the season.[16] His excellent play led him to being named the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and was named to the All-CFL team.[17][18] Hunter played and started in all three post-season games that year, including the 111th Grey Cup where the Argonauts' defeated the Blue Bombers 41–24.[19][20]
References
edit- ^ a b "Canisius High grad Ryan Hunter has earned second chance on Chiefs' active roster – The Buffalo News". Buffalonews.com. January 28, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "ARGOS LAND RYAN HUNTER WITH FINAL PICK IN FIRST ROUND OF CFL DRAFT". May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Briggs: Super Bowl-bound Hunter, Perrysburg girl form lasting bond". Toledo Blade. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Chiefs Place S Juan Thornhill on Injured Reserve, Promote OL Ryan Hunter from Practice Squad". Si.com. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "Pro football player from North Bay caps 'up and down' season with trip to the Super Bowl | CBC News".
- ^ Shook, Nick (February 2, 2020). "Chiefs rally once again to defeat 49ers, win SB LIV". NFL.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ "Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53". Chiefs.com.
- ^ "Chargers sign OL Ryan Hunter". Bolts from the Blue. SB Nation. October 1, 2020.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Re-Sign 10 Players to Contracts". Chargers.com. January 5, 2021.
- ^ "Chargers Reduce Roster to 53". Chargers.com. August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Chargers Announce Practice Squad and Claim Two Players Off Waivers". Chargers.com. September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Re-Sign 11 Players to Contracts". Chargers.com. January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Boatmen sign former first-round pick OL Ryan Hunter". Toronto Argonauts. September 23, 2022.
- ^ a b "CFL Guide Book" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "111th Grey Cup notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Brady Oliveira owns the night at CFL Awards". Canadian Football League. November 15, 2024.
- ^ "Best Of The Best: Oliveira, Mitchell lead 2024 All-CFL selections". Canadian Football League. November 7, 2024.
- ^ "Play-by-Play, 111th Grey Cup". Canadian Football League. November 17, 2024.
- ^ "North Bay's Ryan Hunter hoists the Grey Cup".