‘Time flies when you’re having fun’: Linebacker Bighill closes chapter on CFL career in Blue and Gold

Adam Bighill opened his retirement press conference by speaking for nearly 15 minutes straight on his unlikely path to becoming one of the CFL’s all-time greats.

“I grew in small town Washington. I grew up with a cleft lip palate. I grew up with a chip on my shoulder. I grew up in a great family with great parents,” the 37-year-old began.

“And I grew up with a dream. At seven years old, I told my parents I wanted to play professional football. Back then, my favourite player was Jerry Rice, and I was just all in on what it was going to take to be a professional athlete.”

It was an uphill battle from the start, but Bighill always remained undeterred. He was a star running back and linebacker at Montesano High School, but it didn’t seem to matter — scouts and coaches had labelled him as too small and too slow to make it at the next level.