Rene Paredes has spent 15 seasons proving that pressure is mostly somebody else’s problem.
Now the Calgary Stampeders’ veteran kicker is being recognized for everything he has done beyond the uprights.
The Stampeders named Paredes their 2026 nominee for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award, presented annually to the CFL’s National player who best represents strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and community service.
Those qualities have followed Paredes throughout a season that began in the most unfamiliar place possible: the sideline.
An injury suffered on the first day of training camp forced him to miss Calgary’s first 10 games, ending a run of 247 consecutive regular-season appearances dating to his 2011 debut. Rookie Global kicker Jude McAtamney handled the job while Paredes recovered, with the veteran serving as a mentor throughout the transition.
When Paredes returned, he did not exactly ease back into things.
He played the 250th game of his career in Week 15. One week later, he reached 2,500 career points and drilled a 62-yard field goal on the final play to win the game. The kick was the longest successful field goal in Stampeders history, the longest walk-off kick in CFL history and the third-longest field goal the league has recorded.
Just a quiet day at the office.
“It is a tremendous honour to be nominated for the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award once again,” Paredes said. “Giving back to the Calgary community has always been an important part of my journey.”
The two-time Grey Cup champion has been voted a Calgary captain 12 times, a sign of the trust he has earned from teammates. His calm demeanour has made him one of the CFL’s most respected players, especially when a game rests on one swing of his right leg.
Paredes’ work in Calgary, however, extends well beyond football.
The Montreal native, Concordia alumnus and year-round Calgary resident regularly participates in Every Yard Counts visits at Alberta Children’s Hospital. He also supports CUPS Christmas in January, serving warm meals to people who missed one during the holiday season.
His recent community involvement has included supporting the Brakeman Foundation’s work feeding schoolchildren and participating in the Calgary Flames Ambassadors’ Celebrity Poker Tournament. The event raised $645,000 in early 2026 for health and wellness initiatives across southern Alberta.
Paredes has also supported Special Olympics and numerous other community programs during his career.
The award honours Jake Gaudaur, a former CFL commissioner and Royal Canadian Air Force pilot during the Second World War. It has been presented annually since 2010.
Instead of a traditional awards ceremony, this year’s winners will receive surprise presentations near the end of the regular season and during the playoffs. The recorded moments will be shared online, giving fans a look at the people behind the statistics. Paredes seems suited to that spotlight, even if he rarely seeks it.
Paredes’ résumé includes championships, records and enough clutch kicks to fill a highlight reel. His nomination recognizes something less visible but just as consistent: when Calgary calls on him, he keeps showing up.
