{"id":529396,"date":"2026-03-11T15:47:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/529396\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:47:08","slug":"stavros-katsantonis-looks-ahead-through-cfl-mentorship-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/529396\/","title":{"rendered":"Stavros Katsantonis looks ahead through CFL Mentorship Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stavros Katsantonis<\/a> is a renaissance man of sorts \u2014 a University of British Columbia psychology graduate who sold real estate in Idaho and worked as a marketing intern for the Hamilton-based steel giant Stelco.<\/p>\n

On the football field, Katsantonis is always looking for the next chance to snag an interception or deliver a crushing hit. Off it, he\u2019s scanning the horizon for the next opportunity to better position himself for the day he can no longer play football for a living.<\/p>\n

That mindset led Katsantonis to learn all about the business side of football last week as a participant in the CFL\u2019s Mentorship Program.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really been eye-opening to sort of see all the different branches of the CFL and really how the league is run as a whole,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m so grateful for the program \u2014 just to be able to have the opportunity to brush shoulders with some of our great minds in the league, and people who believe in the CFL, believe in Canadian football and believe in our players transitioning after football is done.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED
\u00bb CFL Mentorship Program welcomes 2026 cohort<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s official YouTube channel<\/a>
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\u00bb\u00a0View the entire 2026 season schedule here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Initially, Katsantonis planned to wait to apply for the program. After all, he\u2019s in the prime of his career at age 29. And he\u2019s coming off his best season statistically with career-highs in tackles (69) and interceptions (six) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart of me was like, maybe let\u2019s do it next year,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the other part was like, no, you should do this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s never a wrong time to think about your future after football, because, as we know in the sport, all it takes is one play and that could be the end, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

With that in mind, Katsantonis is exploring his options to stay in the game long after he hangs up his shoulder pads.<\/p>\n

Conducted in tandem with the CFL Players\u2019 Association, the mentorship program welcomes players to the league office for professional development and a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of the game.<\/p>\n

The 2026 class featured Katsantonis, Calgary offensive lineman Bryce Bell<\/a>, Toronto linebacker Jack Cassar<\/a>, free agent quarterback Jeremiah Masoli<\/a>, Winnipeg linebacker Redha Kramdi<\/a>, Calgary defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade<\/a>, and offensive lineman Landon Rice<\/a>, who is also a free agent.<\/p>\n

The players met with subject matter experts in departments such as Football Operations, Social Media and Content, Partnerships, Marketing and Communications and Data Insights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one that caught my mind the most was the marketing side of partnerships,\u201d Katsantonis said. \u201cJust to see all the great things that the league is doing on that front, and the actual time and effort that goes into these partnership deals with these new brands that want to work with the CFL, they want to work with players \u2014 it\u2019s been fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

STAVROS HAS GOT IT!<\/p>\n

Stavros Katsantonis intercepts it to get it back for Ticats.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: @Ticats<\/a> vs. REDBLACKS LIVE NOW
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: TSN, RDS
\ud83c\udf0e: CFL+#CFL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GuSaDx62oY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Katsantonis and his colleagues also visited the TSN studios for a behind-the-scenes look at the CFL ON TSN broadcast.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always was fascinated by broadcasting and the colour commentary and how the panel works,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels very similar to the feeling I get when I\u2019m playing football. It just feels like home. You get that kind of giddy butterfly feeling that you do when it\u2019s game day or when you\u2019re in the locker room with your buddies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always the kid in school that would talk a little bit too much in class and get in trouble. It\u2019s funny when you look back now \u2013 your teacher would say, \u2018Do you think you could get paid for talking for a living?\u2019 as a joke. And now I\u2019m thinking about, oh, I might be able to get paid talking for a living one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Friday, the players finished the program by helping out at the CFL Invitational Combine at the University of Waterloo.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, each player will be paired with an individual mentor for ongoing advice and guidance on furthering their off-field careers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just couldn\u2019t see myself not doing something football\u2011related,\u201d Kasantonis said. \u201cI want to give back in some way.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople talk about degrees and stuff like that. I would say I have a PhD in football, and I don\u2019t want to waste that.\u201d<\/p>\n