Richard Danny Klassen (July 25, 1959 – December 10, 2016) was a defensive lineman who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions from 1981 to 1987 and again in 1989 and 1990, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1988.
[1][2] Klassen's family donated his brain to research and discovered that he had had "chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in combination with dementia" and that it was "of the worst they've ever seen.
"[3] Klassen was recruited by Simon Fraser University as a running back from Sardis Secondary School, Chilliwack, B.C., and played his four years of college football with the Clan.
almost pulled off the unbelievable but fell short against the Edmonton Eskimos dynasty, as Warren Moon hit Brian Kelly for a late touchdown to beat the Lions, 22–16.
In 1984, however, when Matthews, former Edmonton defensive co-ordinator, traded for James "Quick" Parker from the Eskimos, Klassen again switched positions.
Klassen again played an outstanding game at defensive tackle, pressuring and sacking Hamilton quarterback Ken Hobart twice during the game to earn what would be his only Grey Cup championship, however his heroic effort at Olympic Stadium was overshadowed by the play of James "Quick" Parker, who was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence.
Lions were close again but weren't able to get past the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1986 and 1987 Western Finals, losing 41–5 at Commonwealth Stadium in 1986 and 31–7 at BC Place in 1987.
After a 3-game losing streak midway through the 1987 CFL season, Don Matthews was fired as the Lions head coach by Galat and replaced by Larry Donovan.
Klassen spent one season in Regina, where he helped bring Saskatchewan out of its dark years and led the Roughriders to an 11–7 record and their first home playoff game since 1976.