The 12e conquest of the Vanier Cup last Saturday by the Rouge et Or did not go unnoticed in the eyes of the NFL, which took the trouble to highlight the feat by giving a nod to former tight end Antony Auclair .
On the league’s official Facebook page, which is followed by more than 20 million subscribers, the NFL published two messages in French in quick succession.
“The Laval Rouge et Or, the best in the country, are the champions of the 2024 Vanier Cup,” we can read in the first publication, accompanied by a team photo.
Then, the league did it again with a second publication saluting the contribution of Antony Auclair, who was part of the Rouge et Or coaching staff all season.
“A Super Bowl champion and now a Vanier Cup champion. Congratulations Antony on winning the Vanier Cup last weekend as coach of the Laval Rouge et Or,” the NFL wrote on its page.
According to the Rouge et Or’s communications advisor, Frédéric Bhéré, this is the first time that the NFL has directly congratulated the Rouge et Or on social networks.
“In the middle of American Thanksgiving, it’s magical,” he reacted.
Auclair flattered
During the campaign, Auclair contributed to the success of the Rouge et Or as an offensive assistant. He notably supported offensive coordinator Justin Éthier in drawing up game plans, in addition to working directly with the tight ends, wide wings and fullbacks.
“I thought it was really cool that the NFL bothered to give us a nod. “It’s a great showcase for Canadian university football,” he said.
“We feel that the NFL is trying more and more to establish itself in Canada, and messages like that are really important,” he added.
After his college career, Auclair landed a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent following the 2017 draft. He won the Super Bowl with them following the 2020 season, when quarterback Tom Brady became his teammate.
After four seasons in Tampa Bay, the tight end played one season with the Houston Texans, with whom he scored his only career touchdown on October 10, 2021. A brief stint with the Tennessee Titans preceded his retirement.
