“ I was the Muhammad Ali of special teams”: Dan Rashovich breaks down his days in the CFL

By: Andrew Benson
RP Show Intern

Not everyone starts their football journey the same way. Some people start by throwing the ball around with their dad in the backyard, others remember going to their first game in a stadium. For Dan Rashovich, it all started with a fist fight.

“What got me playing,” said Rashovich, “I got into a fight at school, in my homeroom. Next thing you know my history teacher goes ‘you need to put that energy into something positive’”

Rashovich said he didn’t start playing early in his life, but with the help of his history teacher, and his buddy urging him to play, he stepped onto the field.

“I didn’t start playing football until I was in grade 11, and my buddy was saying ‘hey you gotta come play’ and I was like ‘no I don’t want to come play’,” said Rashovich.

“My friend said ‘Danilo, you must come play football for the girls!” and eventually he convinced me to come play football for the girls.”

 “And you ended up in the hall of fame,” said Rod Pedersen

Playing football for the girls turned into a great career for Rashovich. Spending 16 seasons in the CFL, and a brief period with the Los Angeles Raiders.

“I played in Toronto a couple years, and then my first three years in the league I bounced around a little bit, played in Ottawa, was in Calgary for a cup of coffee, back in Toronto for two years, Montreal for a cup of coffee before they folded then with Saskatchewan,” said Rashovich.

Rashovich made his mark on the defensive side of the ball playing linebacker and spending time on special teams as well.

“I was the Mohammed Ali of special teams on downfield tackles,” said Rashovich. “I played the second most games ever as a defensive player in CFL history behind Mike O’Shea by about 11 or 12 games.”

During his career, the linebacker played for many different coaches. And like always, you enjoy some more than others. One specific that stands out above the rest is Don Mathews. And maybe for the wrong reasons.

“It’s a love-hate relationship,” said Rashovich. “When Don left Saskatchewan, and went to Toronto, we were playing Toronto at home. I recovered my second fumble that game on a kickoff, and I ran across the field late in the game and I spiked it in front of him. I held the ball up to him and said ‘have another effing donut Don. That was pretty satisfying.”

Rashovich said he has to give credit to Mathews for the success he had during his time in the CFL.  

“I had some of my best seasons with him so I have to give credit because the style of defence and the things we did definitely helped me in my career. I had some great years playing under Dawn.”

No matter the coach, Rashovich had himself a great career, with hundreds of stories from around the league. But there are only so many hours in the day, so those might have to wait for another day with Rod Pedersen.