At six foot one and just 225 pounds, Joe Montford typifies the changes that took place at the defensive end position and the emergance of the "rush end". Too small to be a defensive end below the border where he would have been a linebacker, Montford's combination of strength and speed made him ideal as a rush end in the CFL with a primary job of getting after the opposing quarterback. Montford started his CFL career with the Shreport Pirats as a free agent signing in September, 1995. Montford played in four games that season and his future success was not so obvious. When the Pirates folded, Montford was drafted in the ninth round of the dispersal draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Montford was used as a linebacker in 1996 and had a good season with 72 tackles and another 17 on special teams. Thing really started to look up for Montford in 1997 with the switch to defensive (rush) end. Montford had 8 quarterback sacks that season and would have more than 20 in each of the next three seasons. Montford's 26 sacks in 1999 is the second highest (as of 2010) single season total in CFL history. Montford would remain with the Tiger-Cats through the 2001 season, winning four East All-Stars and four CFL All-Stars in the same seasons (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001). Montford would also win three Outstanding Defensive Player awards in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Montford became a free agent after the 2001 season and signed with the Toronto Argonauts for 2002Montford's sack total in 2002 fell sharply to 9, but he still won his fifth East All-Star selection that year. Montford was traded back to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for wide receiver Tony Miles and fullback Trevor Bowles. Montford would play two more seasons with Hamilton 92003-2004) before being traded in April of 2005 to Edmonton for offensive lineman Dan Comiskey.. Montford would play his final two season for the Eskimos in 2005 and 2006. Montford posted some impressive numbers in his 12 year CFL career with 135 quarterback sacks, 18 fumble recoveries and 35 forced fumbles.