Anthony Cavillo's career in the CFL shows that you sometimes have to be patient as even the greatest players need to gain experience before blossoming. Calvillo signed with the expansion Los Vegas Posse in April of 1994 and had a not so great rookie season, completing only 44.3% of his passes. When the Posse folded, Calvillo was taken in the first round of the dispersal draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Calvillo had three decent, if not outstanding, seasons with the Tiger-Cats from 1995 to 1997, but he o was released by Hamilton in March of 1998 and signed up with the Montreal Alouettes. Calvillo didn't see as much action in the next two years (1998 and 1999), but the two years were well spent as Calvillo had the benefit of watching a future Hall of Fame quarterback Tracy Ham at the helm of the Alouettes. With Ham's retirement, Calvillo took over the starting QB in 2000 and started to put up some big numbers, including six seasons over 5000 yards in passing and one over 6000. In 2011, Calvillo passed Damon Allen to become the all-time CFL passing leader in yards. Calvillo also broke CFL records for most career touchdown passes and completed passes.
In many wways, Calvillo is not the protypical CFL quarterback. Calvillo is not a running quarterback likee Damon Allen or Tracy Ham, but a drop back passer. Calvillo's greatest strength is his ability to read the defence and get the ball away quickly to the open man. Since taking over as a starter with Montreal, Calvillo has had very high pass completion numbers, normally in the high sixties. Calvillo doesn't run the ball much, but he can pick his spots and pick up big firstdowns wihen he does take off.
Through the end of the 2011 season, Calvillo has won 9 East division All-Stars (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011), 4 CFL All-Stars (2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009), and has won the Most Outstanding Player Awarwd in the CFL three times (2003, 2008 and 2009).
If there was one knock on Calvillo, for a while it was a lack of Grey Cups. The Alouettes, under Calvillo, had dominated the East and from 2000 through 2008, the Alouettes went to the Grey Cup in 6 of of those seven years, winning only once. The Alouettes won in 2002, but lost in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008. Calvillo and the Alouettes helped erase that legacy with back to back Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010 with Calvillo being named the top player in the 2009 Grey Cup.
Calvillo's life has not all been a bed of roses. Both Calvillo and his wife suffered through serious illnesses that they both came back from on route to Calvilo shattering most of the career passing marks in the CFL. There is no doubt that when Calvillo retires, they will be rolling out the red carpet to the Candadian Football Hall of Fame.
Calvillo Given Keys to the City December, 2011
| Year | Team | GP | PA | PC | % | Yds | TD | Int | Sacked | Yds | TC | Yds | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | LV | 17 | 348 | 154 | 44.3 | 2582 | 13 | 15 | 42 | 195 | 4.6 | 21 | 2 | ||
| 1995 | HAM | 18 | 385 | 211 | 54.8 | 2831 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 24 | 51 | 2.1 | 13 | 2 | |
| 1996 | HAM | 13 | 265 | 157 | 59.2 | 2571 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 40 | 311 | 7.8 | 53 | 1 | |
| 1997 | HAM | 12 | 278 | 160 | 57.6 | 2177 | 12 | 11 | 26 | 53 | 242 | 4.6 | 29 | 2 | |
| 1998 | MON | 18 | 172 | 98 | 57 | 1526 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 31 | 121 | 3.9 | 11 | 1 | |
| 1999 | MON | 18 | 249 | 166 | 66.7 | 562 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 56 | 211 | 3.8 | 27 | 3 | |
| 2000 | MON | 18 | 435 | 272 | 62.5 | 4277 | 27 | 5 | 28 | 58 | 230 | 4 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2001 | MON | 18 | 412 | 250 | 60.7 | 3671 | 16 | 9 | 24 | 40 | 253 | 6.3 | 29 | 1 | |
| 2002 | MON | 18 | 569 | 338 | 59.4 | 5013 | 27 | 10 | 22 | 45 | 327 | 7.3 | 24 | 3 | |
| 2003 | MON | 18 | 675 | 408 | 60.4 | 5891 | 37 | 14 | 23 | 45 | 169 | 3.8 | 46 | 1 | |
| 2004 | MON | 18 | 590 | 431 | 62.5 | 6041 | 31 | 15 | 38 | 44 | 237 | 5.4 | 18 | 1 | |
| 2005 | MON | 18 | 681 | 437 | 66.1 | 5556 | 31 | 19 | 30 | 35 | 189 | 5.4 | 15 | 6 | |
| 2006 | MON | 18 | 640 | 402 | 62.8 | 4714 | 20 | 15 | 41 | 28 | 185 | 6.6 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2007 | MON | 13 | 459 | 308 | 67.1 | 3608 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 137 | 6.5 | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | MON | 17 | 682 | 472 | 69.2 | 5633 | 43 | 13 | 26 | 189 | 7.3 | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2009 | MON | 18 | 550 | 396 | 72 | 4639 | 26 | 6 | 32 | 198 | 6.2 | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2010 | MON | 16 | 562 | 380 | 67.6 | 4839 | 32 | 7 | 16 | 107 | 6.7 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2011 | MON | 18 | 654 | 404 | 61.8 | 5251 | 32 | 8 | 21 | 155 | 7.4 | 20 | 1 | ||
| TOT | 8686 | 5444 | 62.7 | 73412 | 418 | 97 | 657 | 3507 | 5.3 | 53 | 32 |
| Year | Team | F | FL | OFR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| \ | LV | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | HAM | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 1996 | HAM | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | HAM | 12 | 9 | 1 |
| 1998 | MON | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | MON | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | MON | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | MON | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 2002 | MON | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003 | MON | 12 | 7 | 4 |
| 2004 | MON | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2005 | MON | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2006 | MON | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007 | MON | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | MON | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | MON | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | MON | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | MON | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| TOT | 88 | 58 | 12 |
