Veteran defensive lineman Charleston Hughes named to Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Calgary Stampeder all-time sack leader defensive end Charleston Hughes was named to the CFL Hall of Fame Wednesday.

TORONTO — Charleston Hughes can add Hall of Famer to his impressive CFL resume.

The Canadian Football Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that the veteran defensive lineman will be inducted into the shrine this September. He’s the third member of the 2026 class to be unveiled, joining receiver/returner Brandon Banks and Canadian fullback Sean Millington.

The remaining six inductees will be announced at a later date. The induction ceremony will be held Sept. 17 in Hamilton.

Hughes, 42, played 14 seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2008-17), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018-19, 2022) and Toronto Argonauts (2021). He led the league in sacks five times and stands fifth overall in CFL history (136).

Hughes appeared in 202 CFL regular-season games (186 starts), registering 526 tackles, 16 defensive takeaways, three defensive touchdowns and 52 tackles for a loss. The native of Saginaw, Mich., is tied with Will Johnson for most sacks (99) in Calgary’s history.

The six-foot-one, 246-pound Hughes was named a CFL all-star on six occasions (2012, ’13, ’16, ’17, ’18 and ’19) and was part of two Grey Cup-winning teams (2008, 2014). Hughes was the West Division’s top defensive player in 2013.

Seven times Hughes posted double-digit sacks in a season, including five straight (2015-19). His career high was 18 in 2013 with Calgary.

“Charleston terrorized quarterbacks and offences across a storied career,” Eric Noivo, the Hall of Fame’s executive director, said in a statement. “He will always be recognized as a fierce competitor by opponents, teammates and fans, with the personality and heart of a true champion.”

The Stampeders dealt Hughes to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in February 2018 but he was subsequently traded to Saskatchewan later that day for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Hughes finished that season appearing in 17 regular-season games and recording 35 tackles and 15 sacks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 8, 2026.

The Canadian Press