Kellen Forrest for Dinos Athletics
Special to Postmedia Network
Dan Federkeil (BA ‘11) never expected to end up as one of his generation’s most decorated Canadian football players.
But when he joined the University of Calgary Dinos football team at the age of 17, it was the start of something special.
The Medicine Hat native ended his career as one of the rare athletes with both a Super Bowl and Grey Cup ring, and will now enter the Dinos Hall of Fame as one of the most successful players the program has ever produced.
When he joined the Dinos as a defensive lineman, his first year was supposed to be a development year. But plans changed in a hurry.
“That was the plan, right? I’m supposed to redshirt the first year and progress into starting after that,” Federkeil said.
However, injuries to the starting defensive end thrust Federkeil into the spotlight, and he never looked back.
At 17 years and two months, he became the youngest-ever player to dress for the Scarlet & Gold.
In five years on the Dinos’ defensive line, Federkeil recorded 111 tackles and 13 sacks. He was a two-time All-Canadian and was named the 2005 Dinos Male Athlete of the Year.
Federkeil came in at 17 years old, and left a pro prospect. He believes that a lot of credit for his development should be given to his Dinos teammates.
“I think the thing that helped me progress the most was my teammates,” Federkeil said. “The fun level of competition we had going on for stuff was quite helpful. I’m sure most people involved in sports understand how much of a grind it can be, so then, mentally and emotionally, you get worn down just as much as you do physically. So even though we didn’t have the most successful team, it was still a really good group of guys.”
That group of guys helped Federkeil get drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft. But Federkeil wouldn’t play a snap for the Argos and instead set his sights south of the border.
Federkeil’s goal of playing in the NFL became a reality as he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. However, the move to the U.S. also came with a position change.
The Colts wanted Federkeil on the offensive line. And though he didn’t have much experience on offence with the Dinos, the Colts didn’t need to see much.
“It all just really came about just from short yardage work with our offence with the Dinos,” Federkeil said of the swap. “They liked how I got off the ball better knowing the snap count than reacting to the ball. And yeah, they worked me out as an offensive lineman. They liked what he saw. They liked the possibilities going forward.”
They made the right choice, as Federkeil ended up playing four seasons with the Colts and started off with a bang when he won the 2006 Super Bowl in his rookie season.
Injuries ended his time in the NFL, but Federkeil wasn’t ready to hang up his cleats just yet. After taking some time off from football to let his body recover, Federkeil saw his opportunity to return to the field.
“I was watching, funny enough, a Stampeders game and said, ‘I could do better than that guy,’ ” Federkeil said.
He wasn’t wrong. Federkeil would go on to start 59 regular-season games, four playoff games and three Grey Cups with the Calgary Stampeders, bringing home the ultimate prize in 2014.
Federkeil announced his retirement from professional football in February 2018, marking the end of a storied career he never saw coming.
“Growing up, there wasn’t any, ‘Hey, this guy’s going to be a future star,’ ” Federkeil said.
That’s exactly what he became.
Federkeil will be inducted into the Dinos Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Monday, along with the other members of the Class of 2024: Sam Effah (track & field), Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey), Erica Wiebe (wrestling), Les Gramantik (coach, track & field) and Gord Franson (builder, soccer).