HAMILTON - Linebacker Marc Beswick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced his CFL retirement Friday.

Beswick spent six seasons with Hamilton after starting his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2008.

"I want to thank (owner) Bob Young and the entire Tiger-Cats organization for my time with the team, but most of all my coaches, trainers, equipment staff, the fans and especially, my teammates," said Beswick. "As I move on from my football career, I want TigerTown to know I will always bleed black and gold."

The six-foot-one, 198-pound Beswick, a Vancouver native, was a special-teams dynamo over his CFL career. He registered 123 special-teams tackles in the regular season and eight in the playoffs. He led the CFL in special-teams tackles in 2011 and '13.

He was the East Division's top special-teams player in 2013 and finished his career tied with Rob Hitchcock for the most special-teams tackles in Ticats history with 122.

"As an organization, we would like to thank Marc for his six years with the club," head coach/GM Kent Austin said. "His leadership and dedication to the team will be missed.

"We wish him and his family the best and they will always be a part of the Tiger-Cat family."

Beswick appeared in 103 career regular-season games and participated in Grey Cups the last two years with Hamilton.