Hamilton Tiger-Cats put their trust in kicker Marc Liegghio — and he keeps delivering
Written by The Canadian Press on October 27, 2025
HAMILTON — Marc Liegghio has been money in the bank this season for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The veteran kicker ended the regular season connecting on all seven field goals he tried — one shy of the club record — Friday night as Hamilton (11-7) clinched first in the East Division with a 35-15 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. The Ticats will host either the Montreal Alouettes or Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the division final Nov. 8.
Liegghio has made 52-of-56 attempts (92.9 per cent) overall, tying him for second-most in club history behind veteran Paul Osbaldiston (54 in 1989). Liegghio was second only to B.C.’s Sean Whyte (95.1 per cent) among CFL kickers
He has also hit on 46-of-48 converts and finished with 203 points, the first time in his five-year CFL career that he’s cracked the 200-point plateau.
Liegghio’s field goal percentage is also a career best, and he set a club record earlier this year by making 33 straight. That earned the 28-year-old Woodbridge, Ont., native Hamilton’s nominations for the CFL’s top Canadian and special-teams player awards.
“His consistency has been great,” Hamilton head coach Scott Milanovich said. “The trust that I, our team and organization have in him is as high as it can be.
“We left some opportunities out there offensively (Friday night), but Legs kind of cleaned us up and bailed us out and just kept adding points.”
There was an opportunity with just over a minute remaining Friday night for Liegghio to make a 35-yard attempt and take aim at Osbaldiston’s club record for most field goals in a game. However, Hamilton ran an offensive play instead, turning the ball over on downs.
“First of all, I had no idea that’s what it was,” Milanovich said. “But, really, the reasoning behind that was the only way we could lose that game was to miss a field goal and have it returned for a touchdown.
“That would’ve been a poor decision by me.”
Liegghio was also unaware of how close he was to Osbaldiston’s mark.
“My thing is I just go out there to go one-for-one, that’s my motto and that’s what it’s been throughout the season,” he said. “I get extra points in there as well, so you just kind of go out there and kick your field goals.
“I heard about it after the game. It probably would’ve been pretty cool … next time I’ll go for nine.”
Liegghio has been a model of consistency since joining the Ticats in 2023. He has made 136-of-156 field goals (90.1 per cent) and 111-of-120 converts (92.5 per cent) while also handling kickoff duties.
The former Western Mustang began his CFL career with Winnipeg (2021-22), making 37-of-47 field goals (78.7 per cent) and 61-of-69 converts (88.4 per cent). Liegghio won a Grey Cup with Winnipeg in 2021, but Toronto’s Robbie Smith blocked his 47-yard attempt with 54 seconds left in the 2022 championship to preserve the Argonauts’ 24-23 victory.
The humble Liegghio credits long snapper Gordon Whyte and holder Nik Constantinou — Hamilton’s punter — for their roles in his stellar 2025 season.
“Gord and Nick just make my job that much easier,” Liegghio said. “Those guys are the best … friends for life, for sure.”
Veteran receiver Tim White said it’s comforting for Hamilton’s offence to know that once it crosses midfield, chances are good it will come away with points.
“Just understanding that we have Legs, that’s like a good safety valve for us,” he said. “But our mentality is to score touchdowns every time we get the opportunity, and when we get the ball, that’s first.
“Legs just shines when he has the opportunity.”
Liegghio routinely deals with windy conditions at Hamilton Stadium and, come November, faces the added challenge of kicking a hard football in cold temperatures. But he said practising daily at the venue has helped him adjust to the wind.
As for playing in frigid temperatures, well, welcome to living in Canada.
“You’re used to the heavy winds here at Hamilton Stadium,” he said. “You take it day by day — and the weather, we’re in Canada, so it’s going to get nippy outside.
“We’re used to the winters putting the snow tires on, that kind of stuff, and so it’s getting to that point in the season.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2025.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press