Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Officially the Winnipeg Football Club)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg,
Manitoba. They are currently members of the West Division of the
Canadian Football League (CFL). They play their home games at IG
Field after many years of playing at the since demolished Canad Inns
Stadium.[4]

The Blue Bombers were founded in 1930 as the Winnipeg Football

Club, which has always been the organization's legal name. Unlike
most other professional teams in the four most popular North
American team sports (but much more common in soccer, especially in
Founded 1930
Europe) the official legal name Winnipeg Football Club continues to
see significant everyday use alongside its nickname, particularly in Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
local media and especially when reporting on the club's business Home field Osborne Stadium (1935–
affairs. Another unique aspect to the club compared to other North 1952)
American professional sports teams (but also more common in Canad Inns Stadium (1953–
Europe) is that it is organized as a corporation without share capital, 2012)
meaning no one person or entity "owns" the team - while there are two IG Field (2013–present)
other "community-owned" non-profit professional football teams in Head coach Mike O'Shea
the CFL and one in the NFL, unlike the Winnipeg Football Club they
General Kyle Walters
all have shareholders.
manager
Since their establishment, the Blue Bombers have won the league's Team Wade Miller
Grey Cup championship 11 times, most recently in 2019 when they president
defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–12 in the 107th Grey Cup. The League Canadian Football League
team holds the record for most Grey Cup appearances of any team (25)
Division West Division
and were the first club not located in Ontario or Quebec to win a
championship.[5] Colours Royal blue, gold, white[1][2][3]

Nickname(s) Bombers, Blue and Gold, Big

Blue, True Blue
Contents
Mascot(s) Buzz and Boomer
Team facts
Grey Cup 11 (1935, 1939, 1941, 1958,
Team history
Beginning
wins 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984,
1935 Grey Cup 1988, 1990, 2019)
Blue Bombers Website www.bluebombers.com (htt
Early days of glory p://www.bluebombers.com)
Jack Jacobs era
Current uniform
Glory years and Bud Grant saga
Cal Murphy era
Reinebold years
Milt Stegall era
The Revolving Door era
O'Shea and the end of the drought
Current personnel
Football operation staff
Roster
Management
Head coaches
General managers
Stadium
Players of note
Canadian Football Hall of Famers
All-time 75th-Anniversary team
Team members notable elsewhere
See also
References
Bibliography
External links

Team facts
Founded: 1930
Formerly known as: Winnipegs 1930–
1935
Helmet design: Gold background, with a
white "W" and blue trim Winnipeg Blue Bombers wordmark 2005–2015
Uniform colours: Blue, gold with white
accents
Past uniform colours: Green and white 1930 to 1932
Nicknames: Bombers, Blue and Gold, Big Blue
Mascots: Buzz and Boomer
Fight Song: "Bombers Victory March" Credited to T.H Guild & J. Guild
Stadium: Osborne Stadium (1935–1952), Canad Inns Stadium (1953–2012, known as
Winnipeg Stadium prior to 2000), IG Field (2013–present, known as Investors Group Field
from 2013–19)
Local radio: 680 CJOB
Main rivals: Saskatchewan Roughriders (see Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a team they have played on numerous occasions for the Grey Cup,
Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, and other prairie city teams the Edmonton Eskimos and the
Calgary Stampeders.
Western Division 1st place: 14—1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1947, 1950, 1952,
1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1972
East Division 1st Place: 7—1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2011
Western Division championships: 18—1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1945, 1946,
1947, 1950, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1984, 2019
Eastern Division championships: 7 — 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2007, 2011
Grey Cup Championships: 11—1935, 1939, 1941, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1988,
1990, 2019
Division history: Western Football Conference (1961–1980), West Division (1981-1986),
East Division (1987–1994), North Division (1995), West Division (1996), East Division
(1997–2001), West Division (2002–2005), East Division (2006–2013), West Division
(2014–present)
2019 regular season record: 11 wins, 7 losses, 0 ties
Team history

Beginning
The first football team in Winnipeg was formed in 1879, and was called the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club. On June 10, 1930,
they amalgamated with all the other teams in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union to create the Winnipeg Winnipegs Rugby
Football Club, adopting the colours green and white. The Winnipegs played their first game against St. John's Rugby Club on
June 13, 1930, when St. John's won by a score of 7–3. In 1932, the Winnipegs and St. John's merged into one team and adopted
the colours blue and gold.[6]

1935 Grey Cup

Western teams had been to the Grey Cup game 10 times since 1909, but they had always gone home empty-handed. It was clear
in those days that the East was much more powerful, outscoring their opponents 236–29 in these games. On December 7, 1935,
the Bombers got their first shot at winning the 23rd Grey Cup. The game was being held in Hamilton, with the home-town Tigers
being their opponents. It was a rainy day at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, with 6,405 fans in attendance.

Winnipeg was up 5–0 before many fans had even reached their seats. Hamilton player Jack Craig let the opening kickoff bounce
to the turf while a Winnipeg player promptly recovered the ball at the Hamilton 15-yard line. Winnipeg scored quickly on a Bob
Fritz pass to Bud Marquardt to get the early lead. After scoring another touchdown on a Greg Kabat catch in the endzone,
Winnipeg went into halftime up 12–4. Their lead was soon cut to three points in the second half after Hamilton scored a
touchdown of their own, helped by a blocked kick that placed the ball on the Winnipeg 15-yard line.

Then, after a Hamilton rouge, Winnipeg's RB/KR Fritz Hanson caught a punt, and after a few moves and a few missed tackles,
was on his way to a 78-yard touchdown return, making the score 18–10. Hamilton would force a safety to bring themselves
within six points, but failed to crack the endzone, getting as far as the Winnipeg four-yard line. The final score was Winnipeg 18,
Hamilton 12. With that, Winnipeg had become the first team from Western Canada to win a Grey Cup.[7]

Blue Bombers
In 1935, before an exhibition game against North Dakota State (NDSU), Winnipeg Tribune sports writer Vince Leah decided to
borrow from Grantland Rice, who labelled Joe Louis as "The Brown Bomber". He called the team the "Blue Bombers of Western
football". Up to that point, the team had been called the "Winnipegs". From that day forward, the team has been known as the
"Winnipeg Blue Bombers". In that same year, the Blue Bombers, Calgary Bronks, and Regina Roughriders formed the Western
Interprovincial Football Union as the highest level of play in Western Canada.

Early days of glory

From 1936 to 1949, the Bombers won the right to compete for the Grey Cup in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, and 1945.
Of these appearances, Winnipeg won only twice, in 1939 over the Ottawa Rough Riders and again in their 1941 rematch.

Jack Jacobs era

Jack Jacobs, known as Indian Jack, was a Creek quarterback from Oklahoma. He came to the Bombers in 1950 after a successful
career in the United States. He led the Bombers to two Grey Cup appearances, losing both. His exciting style of play and extreme
talent increased ticket sales and overall awareness and popularity of the club. The revenue the Bombers were getting from their
newfound popularity was enough to convince them to move from the small, outdated Osborne Stadium to the new Winnipeg
Stadium (later known as Canad Inns Stadium). Jacobs was so well liked, the fans even referred to the new stadium as "The House
that Jack Built". Jacobs retired in 1954 to become a talent scout for the team.

In 1951, Jack Jacobs became the first professional football quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season with 3,248. That
year, he was also the first professional football quarterback to throw for at least 30 touchdowns, with 33. The next year he bested
that mark with 34.

Glory years and Bud Grant saga

Bud Grant joined the team in 1953 after a two-year stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, as one of numerous NFL players lured to
Canada during the first part of the decade for then-better salaries. After a four-year career as a receiver, then at the time called an
offensive end, he accepted the position of head coach of the Bombers in 1957. Grant went on to coach the team for the next 10
years before becoming the head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.

In 1956, Blue Bombers fans named Labatt's Pilsener Lager, which had a blue label, Labatt Blue, in honour of their team.[8][9]

During Grant's tenure as head coach, the Bombers welcomed the likes of Ken Ploen, Leo Lewis, Ernie Pitts, and Ed Kotowich to
the team. The Bombers competed in six Grey Cup games during Grant's tenure, winning four (1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962). In
1961, the Bombers won 21–14 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first Grey Cup game to go into overtime. The Bombers and
Ticats met again in the 1962 Grey Cup, with the game being postponed with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter due to zero visibility in
the famous "Fog Bowl". The game resumed the next morning with the Bombers winning 28–27.

During the second half of the 1960s, the Bombers' domination gave away to lean years, with four seasons of double digits in the
loss column. The team bounced back in the early 1970s with the likes of quarterback Don Jonas, running-back Mack Herron,
wide receivers Jim Thorpe, and Bob LaRose. The team finished first in the Western Conference in 1972, the first time it had done
so since 1962. However, the Bombers came up short in the Western Final against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. In the game, the
Bombers squandered a 13-point, third quarter lead en route to a heartbreaking 27–24 loss, with Saskatchewan kicker Jack
Abendschan converting a short field goal attempt on the last play of the game to send the 'Riders to the 1972 Grey Cup against
Hamilton. The 1972 season also marks the last time the team has finished first in the West. The team struggled for a few more
seasons under coaches Jim Spavital and Bud Riley before Ray Jauch was brought in as head coach before the 1978 season. Under
Jauch, the Bombers became one of the stronger teams in the West, but usually behind Jauch's former team, the powerhouse
Edmonton Eskimos coached by Hugh Campbell.

In 1981, wide receiver Eugene Goodlow became the first CFL player to reach the century mark in receptions in a season.
Goodlow caught 100 passes for 1,494 yards and 14 touchdowns. That season, the Bombers became one of the first teams to have
three receivers with at least 1,000 yards in a season: Goodlow with 1,494, Joe Poplawski with 1,271, and Rick House with 1,102.

Cal Murphy era

In 1983, Cal Murphy was hired to be the new head coach of the Blue Bombers. Almost immediately, Murphy set the tone for his
career with the Bombers by trading popular QB Dieter Brock at midseason (because of Brock's desire to play in the USFL) to
Hamilton in exchange for QB Tom Clements. Trading Brock turned out to be a wise decision, with Clements leading the Bombers
to crushing victory in the 1984 Grey Cup, coincidentally over the Brock-led Tiger-Cats. This was Winnipeg's first Grey Cup in 22
years, and also their most recent win and appearance in the championship game as the Western representative. Murphy was
named coach of the year in both 1983 and 1984.

In 1987, Murphy stepped down as head coach to become the team general manager, with assistant coach Mike Riley (son of
former Winnipeg coach Bud Riley) taking over head-coaching duties. Then, just prior to the start of the 1987 season, the
Montreal Alouettes folded. With the East Division suddenly down to three teams compared to five in the West, the league moved
the Blue Bombers to the East to balance the divisions.

Under Riley, the Blue Bombers quickly made an impact in the East, winning Grey
Cups over their former division rivals B.C. and Edmonton in 1988 and 1990
respectively and garnering Riley the coach of the year award both championship
seasons. After Riley left, Darryl Rogers and Urban Bowman each led the team for a
season until 1993, when Murphy took over head-coaching duties again. Murphy
went on to lead the team to a total of five Grey Cup appearances, winning, as a
coach in 1984, and as a GM, in 1988 and 1990. He left the club after the 1996 The now demolished Canad Inns
season, having spent 14 years with the team. Later, he would coach the Stadium, with end zone stands
Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1999. added for the 94th Grey Cup
game.
Winnipeg would play a total of eight consecutive seasons in the East before moving
to the newly created North Division in 1995 during the CFL's expansion to the
United States. With the end of the CFL's American experiment a year later, and the re-establishment of the Alouettes, the Blue
Bombers would return to the re-constituted West Division. This arrangement would also last only one season, as Winnipeg
returned to the East again for the 1997 season after the Ottawa Rough Riders ceased operations.

Reinebold years
In November 1996, Cal Murphy left the Blue Bombers' organization after 14 years. This was partly due to a 68–7 playoff
thumping by the Edmonton Eskimos, and partly because the team had not had a winning record the previous two years, winning
only seven games in 1995, and nine in 1996.

Jeff Reinebold was hired to replace Murphy as the team coach, and despite a huge amount of hype, and championship promises
going into the 1997 season, he proved to be one of the least successful head coaches in team history. The Bombers won four
games in 1997, and just three in 1998.

The few notable highlights from that era include:

Milt Stegall became an all-star in 1997, his first full year with the team, and scored what seemed like at least one
long touchdown in every game.
A 43–12 drubbing of the eventual Western Division champion Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 1997 Labour
Day Classic
In a dramatic win over the Roughriders at home in 1998, forgotten backup QB Troy Kopp led the second-half
over-20-point comeback. This was the "Guaranteed Win day" that the club had been promoting all week, as well
as the first win of the season, in week 11.
The few memorable players on the team during that time included linebacker K.D. Williams, safety Tom Europe, running
back/returner Eric Blount, and Milt Stegall.

Milt Stegall era

Milt Stegall joined the Bombers in 1995 after a three-year career returning kicks and seeing spot duty at receiver with the
Cincinnati Bengals. He played in the Bombers' final six games of the 1995 season, racking up 469 receiving yards. In 1997,
Stegall set a new league record that still stands today for average gain per reception with 26.5 yards on 61 catches for 1616 yards,
including 14 touchdowns. Following a brief return to the NFL, that saw him on the verge of making the New Orleans Saints if not
for a serious knee injury at the end of training camp, Stegall remained the team's primary receiver.

In 1999, the Bombers acquired Khari Jones from the BC Lions. Together, Stegall and Jones brought the Bombers back to
prominence, with Jones being the CFL's most outstanding player in 2001, and Stegall getting the honour in 2002. During the
2006 Grey Cup, Khari Jones and Milt Stegall were voted and honored as the best QB/WR combo in CFL history. Charles Roberts
joined them in 2001, a year which the Bombers went to the Grey Cup, which they eventually lost to the Calgary Stampeders. The
following season, Winnipeg returned to the West Division following the establishment of the Ottawa Renegades. The team was a
powerhouse during this period, being one of the best teams in the league from 2001 until 2003.

Midway through the 2004 season, Jones was traded to the Calgary Stampeders, with backup QB Kevin Glenn taking over the
starting duties. Glenn led the team to two mediocre seasons after the trade. Prior to the 2006 season, the Renegades suspended
operations and Winnipeg once again returned to the East Division.

With the offensive core of Stegall and Roberts still intact, Glenn led the Bombers back to respectability in 2006. The season
included many highlights, but none as exciting at what is simply known as "The Play". On July 20, 2006, trailing the Edmonton
Eskimos on the road 22–19, and facing third and long on their own 10-yard line with 4 seconds left in the game, Milt Stegall
caught a 100-yard TD pass from Kevin Glenn as time expired to win the game 25–22. It is considered by many as the greatest
play in CFL history. Aided by the "miracle" catch, the Bombers ended up making their first playoff appearance in two years.
Despite losing in the first round, optimism going into the 2007 was higher than ever.

The 2007 CFL season was in some ways the year of Milt Stegall: he broke the career CFL touchdown record and fell just short of
overtaking the career receiving yards record held by Allen Pitts. The 2007 season would likely be Stegall's last, as he was 37
years old and had been contemplating retirement for the previous two seasons.

The 2007 Grey Cup game was played between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the first time the
two teams met for the championship. Winnipeg was defeated by the Saskatchewan Roughriders 23–19 in the Rogers Centre in
Toronto. During the East division final win over the Toronto Argonauts, quarterback Kevin Glenn broke his arm and Winnipeg
was left with an inexperienced rookie to take his place for the championship game. Back-up quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie — in
his first CFL start — did not fare well and threw one touchdown pass, fumbled once and threw three interceptions to
Saskatchewan cornerback James Johnson. Johnson was later declared the game MVP.

One of the picks was shown in the instant replay to have hit the ground before it was caught. Despite his rookie mistakes,
Dinwiddie showed promise going into the 2008 season. He was released prior to the 2009 season.

It was announced on January 31, 2008 that Milt Stegall would be returning for one more year for the 2008 season. He signed a
one-year contract for $200,000 on the basis of the fact his wife wanted to have their next child in Winnipeg, and the fact that they
were in line to be a contender for the Grey Cup. He took a $50,000 pay cut, and started the season 159 yards away from breaking
Allen Pitts' all-time receiving yards record.

Other returning players who were free agents going into the 2008 season, including star DE Tom Canada, OL's Dan Goodspeed,
and Matt Sheridan, signed for less money from the Bombers than other teams were prepared to pay them, in hopes of a Grey Cup
run in '08. Tom Canada, in particular, reportedly turned down a much higher contract offer from the Montreal Alouettes, to come
back to Winnipeg.

The Bombers made a surprise trade when they sent all-star running back Charles Roberts to B.C. for Joe Smith on September 2,
2008. Then on September 8, 2008, they traded all-star DE Tom Canada to Hamilton for Zeke Moreno. But on September 9, 2008,
the trade was cancelled because Canada was injured and could not play for at least 10 weeks. So, since they could not trade
Canada, they sent over Corey Mace and a first-round pick for Moreno.

Following the 2008 season in which the Bombers were defeated in the division semifinals, Doug Berry (the head coach) was
fired. Mike Kelly was chosen to replace him. At the end of the Cal Murphy era, Mike Kelly was the offensive coordinator and
was passed over for the top job in favour of Jeff Reinebold. With Milt Stegall's early-season knee surgery and drop in production,
it was once again speculated that Milt Stegall would retire.

The departure of Brendan Taman on January 13, 2009, was another sign that this era was coming to an end and a new one was
beginning.[10] On February 18, 2009, Milt Stegall did retire from the CFL which formally ended the Milt Stegall era.
The Revolving Door era
The return of Mike Kelly opened a new Cal Murphy era, and the board hoped to bring back Murphy's success. However, Kelly
was fired by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Board of Directors on December 17, 2009, after one year of employment.

Paul LaPolice was introduced as the 28th head coach in Blue Bombers history on February 5, 2010. The new coach emphasized
the idea of "team" and playing for the uniform. He also made it a point to talk about fixing problems rather than making excuses.
The new paradigm was tested in the 2010 season in which the team finished 4–14 and missed the playoffs for the second straight
year. Nine of those games were lost by four points or fewer, while 10 were lost by a touchdown or less.

The 2011 season featured an almost completely unchanged team (save for a few losses to the NFL and a few gains from the
draft). The Blue Bombers reversed their standings from last place in the east in 2010 to finishing in first place in the East division
with a 10–8 record.[11] The team success hinged on a league-leading defence dubbed Swaggerville, which led them to their first
division title in 10 years.[12] The team advanced to the 99th Grey Cup after defeating Hamilton in the Eastern Final. However,
they lost to the favoured BC Lions by a score of 34–23.

On August 9, 2013, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced that CEO Garth Buchko stepped down and General Manager Joe
Mack was fired.[13]

The CFL returned to Ottawa in 2014 with the establishment of the Redblacks. Initially, the league planned to keep Winnipeg in
the East, at least for the short term, due in part to the ongoing competitive dominance of the West. Despite this, Blue Bombers
management lobbied heavily to return to the West Division immediately (for historical reasons), and eventually the league
relented. The Blue Bombers finished last place in their first season back in the West, with a 7–11 record.

O'Shea and the end of the drought

After being named the acting CEO in August 2013 Wade Miller was announced
as the CEO and President of the Club on November 12, 2013.[14] The shake up
of the top brass in 2013 also led to Kyle Walters having to take over the acting
GM duties, which were made officially his on November 26, 2013 when he was
named the General Manager.[15]

Mike O'Shea was hired by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on December 4, 2013, to Members of the Blue Bombers with
become the team's 30th Head Coach in team history.[16] O'Shea would help the the Grey Cup during their
championship parade in 2019.
team return to the playoffs when he made the switch to Matt Nichols as the
starting quarterback. The team still failed to advance to a Grey Cup despite the
rise in success. During the 2019 season, an injury to Matt Nichols and a suspension to Andrew Harris seemed to end their season.
The Bombers traded for Zach Collaros right before the trade deadline, who joined his third team for the year. Collaros formed a
quarterback pairing with Chris Streveler. The two quarterbacks' play, behind the dominant performance of the defence saw the
team win their 11th championship at the 107th Grey Cup, breaking a 29 year drought. Hometown player Harris became the first
player ever to win the Grey Cup MVP and Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian.[17]

Current personnel

Football operation staff

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Staff
Front Office Head Coaches
 Owner – Community owned (non-profit Head Coach – Mike O'Shea
corporation owned by members)
Offensive Coaches
Chairperson of the Board of Governors – Dayna
Spiring Offensive Coordinator/Receivers –
President/CEO – Wade Miller Paul LaPolice
General Manager of Football Operations – Kyle Quarterbacks – Buck Pierce
Walters Running Backs – Kevin Bourgoin
Assistant General Manager / Director of U.S. Offensive Line – Marty Costello
Scouting – Danny McManus
Defensive Coaches
Assistant General Manager / Director of Player
Personnel – Ted Goveia
Defensive Coordinator – Richie
National Scout – Craig Smith Hall
Team Services Coordinator – Matt Gulakow Defensive Line & Linebackers –
Head Equipment Manager – Brad Fotty Glen Young
Assistant Equipment Manager – Kevin Todd Defensive Backs – Jordan
Assistant Equipment Manager – Jared Cronk Younger
Special Teams Coaches

Special Teams Coordinator – Paul

Boudreau
→ Coaching Staff (http://www.bluebombers.
com/coaching-staff)
→ More CFL staffs

Roster
Winnipeg Blue Bombers roster
Quarterbacks Offensive Linemen Linebackers 1-Game Injured
8 Zach Collaros 66 Stanley Bryant 4 Adam Bighill 43 Brandon Calver
12 Sean McGuire LT 34 Jesse Briggs LB
17 Chris Streveler 61 Drew Desjarlais 44 Shayne Gauthier 59 Michael Couture
LG OL
Running Backs 45 Korey Jones
67 Asotui Eli 23 Anthony Gaitor
52 Thomas Miles DB
27 Johnny 51 Jermarcus
LB/LS
Augustine Hardrick RT 68 Geoff Gray OL
19 Kyrie Wilson
33 Andrew Harris 53 Patrick Neufeld 91 Connor Griffths
RG Defensive Backs DL
Fullbacks
62 Cody Speller C 58 Maxime Latour
37 Brandon
LS
24 Mike Miller Defensive Linemen Alexander
93 Craig Roh DL
32 John Rush 41 Kerfalla Exumé
3 Thiadric 7 Lucky
Receivers Hansen 22 Chandler Fenner
Whitehead WR
94 Jackson Jeffcoat 21 Nick Hallett 65 Darrell Williams
1 Darvin Adams 29 Jeff Hecht
5 Willie Jefferson OL
88 Rasheed Bailey 0 Derek Jones
2 Jonathan 6-Game Injured
10 Nic Demski 16 Mike Jones
Kongbo
89 Kenny Lawler 92 Drake Nevis 36 Mercy Maston 31 Dexter Janke DB
30 Winston Rose
81 Daniel 98 Steven 14 Marcus Sayles 6 Charles Nelson
Petermann Richardson 25 Nick Taylor REC
82 Drew Wolitarsky 95 Jake Thomas 15 Matt Nichols QB
Special Teams
20 Brady Oliveira
80 Janarion Grant RB
KR/WR Practice Roster
9 Justin Medlock
P/K 48 Nate Brisson-
46 Chad Rempel Fast DL
LS 38 Manuel
Hernández Reyes
LB
35 Trey Johnson
DB
49 David Kenney
DE
18 Trevor Knight
QB
97 Meffy
Koloamatangi DE
39 Marcus Rios DB
47 Jordan Robinson
RB
26 Sergio
Shiaffino Pérez DB
86 Kenneth Walker
REC
84 Malcolm
Williams REC
40 Deondre Wright
DB

Italics indicate American

players
Bold indicates Global
players
Roster (http://www.bluebom
bers.com/roster/) updated
2019-11-23
Depth Chart (http://www.blu
ebombers.com/depthchart/l
ist/team/5) • Transactions
(http://www.bluebombers.c
om/transactions/)
46 Active, 9 One-game Injured,
4 Six-game Injured, 12 Practice

→ More rosters
Management

Head coaches
Fred Ritter (1924–1929)
Jack Millidge (1930)
Pete Barnes (1931)
Carl Cronin (1932–1933)
Greg Kabat (1934)
Bob Fritz (1935–1937)
Reg Threlfall (1938–1944)
Bert Warwick (1945)
Jack West (1946–1948)
Frank Larson (1949–1950)
George Trafton (1951–1953)
Allie Sherman (1954–1956)
Bud Grant (1957–1966)
Joe Zaleski (1967–1969)
Jim Spavital (1970–1973)
Bud Riley (1974–1977)
Ray Jauch (1978–1982)
Cal Murphy (1983–1986, 1993–1996)
Mike Riley (1987–1990)
Darryl Rogers (1991)
Urban Bowman (1992)
Jeff Reinebold (1997–1998)
Dave Ritchie (1999–2004)
Jim Daley (2004–2005)
Doug Berry (2006–2008)
Mike Kelly (2009)
Paul LaPolice (2010–2012)
Tim Burke (2012–2013)
Mike O'Shea (2014–Present)

General managers
Joe Ryan (1931–1941)
Lou Adelman (1945)
Gord Bieber (1946–1947)
Bill Boivin (1955–1957)
Jim Ausley (1958–1964)
Bud Grant (1965–1966)
Joe Zaleski (1967)
Earl Lunsford (1968–1982)
Paul Robson (1983-1986)
Cal Murphy (1987–1996)
Jeff Reinebold (1997–1998)
Ken Bishop (1999)
Lyle Bauer (2000–2001)
Dave Ritchie (2002–2003)
Brendan Taman (2004–2008)
 Mike Kelly (2009)
Joe Mack (2010–2013)
Kyle Walters (2013–present)

Stadium
During the Blue Bombers' early years, the team played at Osborne Stadium, a
small stadium near the Manitoba Legislative Buildings. The fast, passing-
dominated play of Bombers quarterback Jack Jacobs dramatically increased
attendance at games and precipitated the need for a new, larger stadium.
Winnipeg Stadium was built in the West End of the city near Polo Park, and the Panoramic view of IG Field
Blue Bombers began play there in 1953. The stadium had significant changes
over the years, including a renaming to Canad Inns Stadium.

Over the years, various plans were proposed to relocate the stadium. In 2008, a plan was proposed to build a new stadium at the
University of Manitoba, with both private and public funding. On April 2, 2009, David Asper (a media mogul located out of
Winnipeg associated with Canwest and Creswin Properties) struck a deal with all levels of governments to build a new 33,422-
seat (expandable to 45,000) stadium at the University of Manitoba in southwest Winnipeg. This would serve as the home for the
Blue Bombers, as well as the U of M Bisons. The deal included refurbishing the existing Bison Stadium for practice and training,
as well as upgrading, expanding, and building new sports and fitness facilities. This project, once completed, would be the
premiere sports training facility in Canada. The project would have received on-going funding from a retail development that
Asper planned to build on the former CanadInns stadium site. As part of the deal, Creswin properties would take over ownership
of the team in 2010. The new stadium and facilities would have been completed for the 2012 CFL season, with the retail
development finished in 2013.[18][19] On December 13, 2013, it was reported that Asper and Creswin Properties would no longer
be included in the stadium project, which would continue with funding from the City of Winnipeg, Province of Manitoba, and
Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[20]

On May 2, 2012, the Blue Bombers announced that because of constructions delays, the stadium would not be ready until
September, thus forcing the team to play four or five home games at Canad Inns Stadium to start the season.[21] In June 2012, it
was announced that the stadium would not open until the 2013 season.[22]

The Blue Bombers played their first home game at IG Field (then known as Investor's Group Field) on June 27, 2013, losing 38–
33 to the Montreal Alouettes.[23]

Players of note

Canadian Football Hall of Famers

Paul Bennett – inducted as a player in 2002
John Bonk – inducted as a player in 2008
Ralph "Dieter" Brock – inducted as a player in 1995
Less Browne – inducted as a player in 2002
Tom "Citation" Casey – inducted as a player in 1964
Arthur Chipman – inducted as a builder in 1969
Tom Clements – inducted as a player in 1994
Carl Cronin – inducted as a player in 1967
Andrew Currie – inducted as a builder in 1974
Matt Dunigan – inducted as a player in 2006
Bill Frank – inducted as a player in 2001
 Harry Peter "Bud" Grant – inducted as a builder in 1983
Tommy Grant – inducted as a player in 1995
G. Sydney Halter – inducted as a builder in 1966
Frank Hannibal – inducted as a builder in 1963
Fritz Hanson – inducted as a player in 1963
John Helton – inducted as a player in 1985
Dick Huffman – inducted as a player in 1987
W.P. "Billy" Hughes – inducted as a builder in 1974
Jack Jacobs – inducted as a player in 1963
Eddie James – inducted as a player in 1963
Gerry James – inducted as a player in 1981
Greg Kabat – inducted as a player in 1996
Les Lear – inducted as a player in 1974
Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis – inducted as a player in 1973
Earl Lunsford – inducted as a player in 1983
Chester "Ches" McCance – inducted as a player in 1976
Cal Murphy – inducted as a builder in 2004
James Murphy – inducted as a player in 2000
Ken Ploen – inducted as a player in 1975
Joe Poplawski – inducted as a player in 1998
Russ "The Wisconsin Wraith" Rebholz – inducted as a player in
1963
Frank Rigney – inducted as a player in 1984
Joseph B. Ryan – inducted as a builder in 1968
Karl Slocomb – inducted as a builder in 1989
Milt Stegall - inducted as a player in 2012
Art Stevenson – inducted as a player in 1969
Robert Porter "Buddy" Tinsley – inducted as a player in 1982
Chris Walby – inducted as a player in 2003
Bert Warwick – inducted as a builder in 1964

All-time 75th-Anniversary team

Greg Battle
Ralph "Dieter" Brock
Tom Clements
Herb Gray
Bob Cameron
Tom Casey
Fritz Hanson
Rick House
Jack Jacobs
Gerry James
Trevor Kennerd
Leo Lewis
James Murphy
Ken Ploen
Frank Rigney
Charles Roberts
Joe Poplawski
Willard Reaves
Milt Stegall
 Chris Walby

Team members notable elsewhere

Ed Schultz, talk show host
Ben Hatskin, Winnipeg Jets owner; World Hockey Association
chairman
Tom Europe, The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp host

See also
Valour FC, the Canadian Premier League soccer team owned by Winnipeg Football Club
List of fan-owned sports teams
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian football
Comparison of Canadian and American football
List of Canadian Football League seasons

References
1. "Blue Bombers update logo and helmet design in advance of 2012 season" (https://www.bluebombers.com/2012/
04/24/blue-bombers-update-logo-and-helmet-design-in-advance-of-2012-season/). BlueBombers.com. CFL
Enterprises LP. April 24, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
2. Tait, Ed (May 12, 2016). "Royal Blue, Gold and White: The New Adidas Uniforms are Revealed" (https://www.blu
ebombers.com/2016/05/12/royal-blue-gold-and-white-the-new-adidas-uniforms-are-revealed/).
BlueBombers.com. CFL Enterprises LP. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
3. "Winnipeg Blue Bombers Club Profile & History" (https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/201
7/07/CFL-Book-2017-Perfect-Bind.pdf#page=17) (PDF). 2017 CFL Guide & Record Book. CFL Enterprises LP.
Retrieved December 1, 2017.
4. "Stadium History" (https://www.bluebombers.com/stadium-history/). Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
5. "History of the Grey Cup" (http://www.cfhof.ca/history-of-the-grey-cup/). Canadian Football Hall Of Fame.
Retrieved January 31, 2019.
6. 2009 Canadian Football League Facts, Figures & Records, Canadian Football League Properties/Publications,
Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 978-0-9739425-4-5, p.282-283
7. "1935 Grey Cup" (https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1935). CFL. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
8. "Labatt Blue"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20090401045518/http://labatt.com/english/lbc_brands/fam/fb_blu.html). Labatt
Brewing Company. Archived from the original (http://www.labatt.com/english/lbc_brands/fam/fb_blu.html) on April
1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
9. "Labatt renews long-standings relationship with Blue Bombers" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090407070329/htt
p://www.labatt.com/news/articles/Canada_20070006.htm). Labatt Brewing Company. 2007-05-24. Archived from
the original (http://www.labatt.com/news/articles/Canada_20070006.htm) on April 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
10. "Taman resigns player personal post with Blue Bombers" (http://tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=263047&lid=headline&lpos=s
ecStory_cfl). TSN. January 13, 2009.
11. "Blue go from reverse to first" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/blue-go-from-reverse-t
o-first-133317488.html). Winnipeg Free Press. November 6, 2011.
12. "Swaggerville reincarnate" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/swaggerville-reincarnate-
130102063.html). Winnipeg Free Press. September 19, 2011.
13. "Blue Bombers axe GM Joe Mack, CEO Buchko resigns" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/blue-bomber
s-axe-gm-joe-mack-ceo-buchko-resigns-1.1333727). CBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
14. "Blue Bombers name Wade Miller president, CEO" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/blue-bombers-nam
e-wade-miller-president-ceo-1.2423815). CBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
15. "Kyle Walters named Blue Bombers' GM" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/kyle-walters-named-blue-bo
mbers-gm-1.2440521). CBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
16. "Mike O'Shea hired as Blue Bombers head coach" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mike-o-shea-hired-
as-blue-bombers-head-coach-1.2450358). CBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
17. Dan Ralph (November 25, 2019). "Homegrown hero Andrew Harris helps Winnipeg end 29-year Grey Cup
drought" (https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-grey-cup-winnipeg-blue-bombers-hamilton-tiger-cats-107-1.537
1689). CBC News.
18. "Official Site of the new Bomber Stadium" (http://www.blueandgold.ca). Blue and Gold.
19. "Bombers accelerate stadium plan" (http://cfl.ca/article/bombers-accelerate-stadium-plan). CFL. March 31, 2010.
20. "Asper out of $190M stadium deal" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Stadium-package-announc
ement-expected-111778744.html). Winnipeg Free Press. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
21. "First game in new stadium could be as early as Sept. 9: Bombers" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingn
ews/First-game-in-new-stadium-to-be-Sept-21-Bombers-149833095.html). Winnipeg Free Press. 25 May 2012.
Retrieved 2012-05-02.
22. "Bombers to play entire season at Canad Inns Stadium" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bomb
ers/159204945.html). Winnipeg Free Press. June 15, 2012.
23. "Bombers late to the party" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/football/bombers/bombers-late-to-the-party
-213464451.html). Winnipeg Free Press. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-01.

Bibliography
Bob Irving (edited by). Blue & Gold: 75 Years of Blue Bomber Glory, 2005. ISBN 1-894283-59-7
Official statistics of the WIFU, CFC and CFL, 1950 to 2007
CFL Facts, Figures and Records 1985 to 2007
Winnipeg Blue Bomber Media Guides 2006 and 2007

External links
Official website (http://www.bluebombers.com)

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