{"id":926582,"date":"2026-10-09T13:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/926582\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T13:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:44:13","slug":"b-c-lions-quadragenarian-kicker-sean-whyte-has-no-plans-to-retire-prior-to-scary-cfl-rule-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/926582\/","title":{"rendered":"B.C. Lions’ quadragenarian kicker Sean Whyte has no plans to retire prior to ‘scary’ CFL rule changes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto courtesy: David Dermer\/B.C. Lions<\/p>\n

A changing of the guard could be on the way in the CFL kicking fraternity, but Sean Whyte has no plans to leave the B.C. Lions of his own volition.<\/p>\n

The four-time all-star, who will turn 41 years old later this month, says that he is not yet contemplating retirement, despite a looming threat to kickers across the league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to quit ever,\u201d Whyte told reporters this week. \u201cI feel really good. I\u2019m hitting the ball clean. The new rule changes are kind of scary; I think they want a guy with a bigger leg, but I\u2019m just going to continuously do me. I think I\u2019ve shown that I\u2019m still competitive and I\u2019m still consistent, and I can still do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The CFL announced structural rule changes last season, the most substantial of which are set to take effect in 2027. The goal posts, which currently sit at the goal line, are slated to move to the back of a shortened 15-yard end zone, increasing the distance needed to hit your average kick.<\/p>\n

Some have speculated that the move could push out a segment of the league\u2019s current specialists, particularly those like Whyte who thrive from inside of 50 yards. The longstanding veteran has connected on 40-of-43 field goal attempts (93 percent) so far this season, but has made just one kick from outside 50 yards in the past two years \u2014 hitting that mark exactly. Under the new rules, the offence would have to reach the 28-yard line to set up that same kick, placing an emphasis on kickers with more raw leg strength.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely thinking about it because it\u2019s my job, and right now I\u2019m having the best time of my life playing for my hometown,\u201d Whyte acknowledged. \u201cI\u2019ve got my wife and my daughter at games. My mom and dad are there. It\u2019s just special, and I don\u2019t want to give it up. I want to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

CFL teams have already begun preparing for the shift, taking advantage of the league\u2019s Global roster rules to develop international athletes from other sports who possess big boots but lack polished process or accuracy. In B.C., former Gaelic footballer Mark McNamee has spent the entire year on the injured list, learning for the future.<\/p>\n

There is already a potential blueprint for his success, as fellow Irishman Jude McAtamney went 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) during a long early-season audition with the Calgary Stampeders, nailing all five of his kicks from outside of 50 in the process. Veteran Canadian Rene Paredes took back the top job with the team once he returned from injury and has had predictable success, but has since announced that he will be retiring after this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That hit home with Whyte, who is roughly eight months Paredes\u2019 junior.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate enough to be able to have a couple beers with the guy after a game, and he\u2019s an awesome human being. He\u2019s had an unbelievable career,\u201d Whyte said. \u201cWe started basically at the same time, so he pushed me to be better. I always wanted to beat Rene, and I hope it\u2019s vice versa. Nothing but respect for that guy. He\u2019s done amazing. He\u2019s like a Lui Passaglia; he\u2019s one of the greats, and he\u2019s a trendsetter for the kids, up-and-coming Canadian kickers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whyte continues to be a role model for the next generation in his own right, and has enjoyed the best stretch of his career since returning to B.C. in 2022. Distance be damned, his ability to provide almost automatic points continues to rank him among the league\u2019s best, and he has shown no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n

That was on full display last week, when Whyte connected on all eight of his field goal attempts to score every single Lions point in a 24-17 victory over Toronto. That performance set a new franchise record and would have tied a CFL single-game record if it had been done one week earlier. Edmonton\u2019s Vincent Blanchard, who was 11 years old when Whyte kicked his first professional field goal, beat him to the punch with a nine-field-goal outing in Week 17.<\/p>\n

However, the Laval product needed overtime to achieve his feat, while B.C.\u2019s reliable veteran did his in regulation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely. Mine\u2019s way better,\u201d Whyte grinned when asked if Blanchard\u2019s accomplishment needed an asterisk.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the end of the game, I was feeling really good. I was hitting the ball clean and going into the 48-yarder at the end of the game, there was no doubt in my mind. I kind of knew (the record) was at stake. Everyone kept bugging me about it, but no, it\u2019s just fun to be a part of the team. I\u2019ve been kicking PATs all dang year, so it was nice to actually earn a cheque this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

That performance reinforced the dilemma that the Lions, and several other CFL teams, will face this offseason. You can chase the ability to kick long field goals and maximize the range from which you can score, but how many of those players will have the experience and precision needed to make kick after kick with the game on the line? Accuracy and reliability still count for something amidst a shifting landscape.<\/p>\n

\u201cI needed a day like that, especially for contract purposes in the offseason,\u201d Whyte grinned. \u201cI needed to show people I can still do it, I can still be counted on, and that\u2019s all it is. I try not to think about those things. I just try to go 100 percent every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

So long as the Lions continue prioritizing his skill set, Whyte plans to be back next year. He\u2019s still having fun, believing that his teammates keep him young and crediting this particular roster as a \u201cspecial\u201d group. There is also one task outstanding for the White Rock, B.C., native after 19 years in pro football.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m from B.C. I want a B.C. Lions Grey Cup ring,\u201d Whyte said. \u201cI grew up going to games and watching Lui and watching the Fluties. Every time I put on that jersey, I know how lucky and special it is. It still hasn\u2019t hit me, man. It\u2019s just surreal to me that I\u2019m even still here doing this. It would mean everything to have a B.C. Lions ring on my finger. I can retire the Edmonton one and just wear my B.C. Lions one for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The B.C. Lions (9-6) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-15) on Friday, October 9, with kickoff scheduled for 10:00 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks are coming off a loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Lions have won seven of their last eight matchups.<\/p>\n

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa and 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

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J.C. Abbott is a University of British Columbia graduate and high school football coach. He covers the CFL, B.C. Lions, CFL Draft and the three-down league’s Global initiative.<\/p>\n

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