Weston Dressler is starting a new chapter in his life.

The North Dakota native, who spent 11 productive years in the CFL with the Riders and Bombers, hasn’t officially handed in his retirement papers but he has taken a job as a community relations specialist with Sanford Health in Bismarck.

It is a move he says that was discussed for the past several months with his family.

“This has been in the works for quite a while as I started talking with Sanford shortly after Christmas.” Dressler said.  “I liked what they had to say and the opportunity being presented to me. The more I thought about it and looked at the future with my wife and kids it seemed like the right time to make the move so we made the decision around March to do this.”

Dressler’s career in Rider green was one that started in 2008 when he came to a rookie camp and dazzled then coach Ken Miller.  In the 11 years that followed, Dressler became a CFL all-star five times, he was named the rookie of the year in 2008, he won a Grey Cup in 2013 while accumulating six 1000 yard seasons –five with Saskatchewan, and two seasons where he had 900 plus yards.

His style of play quickly resulted in a love affair forming with Rider fans who quickly adopted him as a local even though he was from North Dakota.  It is something he greatly appreciated.

“That was pretty special.  To have that fanbase bring me in as one of their own was great.  Those that have been in Saskatchewan and North Dakota know how similar the two areas are when it comes to people.” Dressler said. “It didn’t take me long either to make it feel like home,”

Dressler says he hasn’t really thought about what his football career both at the University of North Dakota and the CFL entailed as he has been busy getting his family including a two-month-old baby transferred from Regina to Bismarck.  When he thinks about memories, he says the 2013 Grey Cup obviously tops the list, but he says the one thing he reflects on is the time he spent with the guys in the locker-room.

“There are guys I played with both in Saskatchewan and Winnipeg that I will be friends with for the rest of my life.” Dressler stated. “Those friendships are ones that football brought to me and they are special to me.  I remember some of those moments more vividly than things that actually happened in a game.”

When asked how he would like Rider fans and CFL fans to remember him, Dressler says for the player that he was who did everything he could on and off the field to help the team win.

The entire interview with Weston Dressler can be heard.