It is with great sadness that the Calgary Stampeders have learned of the recent death of one of their alumni, Randy Trautman. The Caldwell, Idaho, native passed away in his sleep on Sunday at the age of 53.

A defensive lineman, Trautman played 50 games for the Red and White from 1982-85, earning West Division all-star honours in both 1983 when he led the team with 12 sacks and in 1984. 

He was the Stampeders’ all-time leader with 31 sacks at the end of his Calgary career and he remains in the franchise’s top 10 in that category.

“Randy was one of the most intense players I’ve ever encountered in my career,” said Stampeders executive vice-president/consultant to the executive committee Stan Schwartz, who was a member of the Calgary coaching staff when Trautman joined the team in 1982. “He battled a hip injury during his career but you would certainly never know it from the level of his play. He was one of the toughest players I’ve ever seen and a very loyal teammate. He will be missed.”

Trautman, who was a draft pick of the National Football League’s Washington Redskins in 1982, was a collegiate star at Boise State as he was part of the Broncos’ 1980 Division I-AA championship team and was named the Big Sky defensive player of the year in 1981. He is an inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame.