A. J. Gass

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A. J. Gass

Date of birth:	November 29, 1975 (1975-11-29) (age 32)
Place of birth:	Bellflower, California
Career information
Status:	retired
CFL status:	Import
Position(s):	LB
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Jersey №:	77
College:	Fresno State
Organizations
As coach:
2008	Edmonton Eskimos
As player:
1998 – 2007	Edmonton Eskimos
Stats at CFL.ca

A.J. Gass (b. November 29, 1975 in Bellflower, California) is a former Canadian football linebacker. He played his entire professional career with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos.

Gass attended Fresno State University and was an all-conference first-team linebacker in 1996 and 1997. After graduating from Fresno State, Gass went undrafted in the National Football League and, on May 21, 1998, signed with the Eskimos as a free agent. Gass appeared in nine games in the 1998 CFL season, and soon established himself as an important member of the Eskimos' lineup. However, Gass has had to battle a series of serious injuries: in 2000, a hand injury sidelined Gass for eleven weeks, and a chronic knee problem limited his time in both 2001 and 2002, with the latter injury requiring surgery.

The surgery was successful and Gass had a successful 2003 season, winning the 91st Grey Cup with the Eskimos. In 2005, Gass was a key cog in the Eskimos' victory in the 93rd Grey Cup.

Gass encountered suspension trouble in 2007 after Gass ripped the helmet off Calgary Stampeders lineman Jeff Pilon and threw it to the ground. Gass claimed the situation arose after Pilon had groped his groin. However, after appealing to an independent arbitrator, Gass avoided his suspension.

On January 31, 2008, Gass announced his retirement as a player and was hired as a defensive assistant on the Edmonton coaching staff.^[1]

Gass lives year-round in Edmonton, Alberta.