‘That’s a great teammate’

You’d think Tui Eli has the patience of a saint.

He’s been a Winnipeg Blue Bomber for five seasons, and yet, the Canadian offensive lineman has started just six games.

Instead of being a full-timer in the trenches, the University of Hawai’i product has been used as a reliable and versatile rotational piece — with zero complaints.

“He will, a lot of times, put other people first and he will always put the team first. So, if you ask him to do something, he’s not going to show any type of disappointment or anything like that — that’s his role and he will not only accept it, but do whatever he can to thrive in that role for everybody else,” said head coach Mike O’Shea after Wednesday’s training camp session.

“I’ve never looked at it as Tui not trying to take something, I’ve always looked at it as Tui doing whatever we ask him to do — sometimes, probably to the detriment of his career advancement.”

“I mean, that’s a great teammate,” O’Shea added.

Great teammate, perhaps, but according to him, that doesn’t make him patient.

“One of my biggest weaknesses, actually, is patience. I just find (I have) little tendencies throughout the day every now and then where I’ll rush to do this or that,” said Eli, who has 70 career games to his name.

“It’s something that I’m working on. My wife, being my accountability partner, is helping me with (that).”

Patient or not, there’s been several openings on the O-line over the past few years, and Eli’s job description remained the same.

“Well, my role on this team has always been to do my part, wherever that is, wherever they ask me to be. I feel like that’s how it’s been and how it’s been going,” said the 30-year-old.

“I appreciate wherever I am to play this game and, to play for money — that’s crazy.”

Instead of testing the market and finding a club that would use him in all situations, Eli has been as committed to Winnipeg as anyone. One-year contracts are the norm in the CFL, but Eli signed a three-year deal with the Bombers in 2023, and a two-year extension this past off-season.

Eli, who was born in Richmond, B.C., was selected in the fourth round, 34th overall, in the 2019 CFL Draft. Back in 2017 at Hawai’i, he was named to the pre-season watch list for both the Rimington Award (best centre in college football) and the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award.

“Nah, it’s not about that,” said Eli on pursuing a bigger opportunity.

“It’s about being where you’re called to be. My wife and I prayed over their last two contracts about where we’re supposed to be and Winnipeg is where we feel at peace with. Mike O’Shea is the coach we want to play for. There’s no better O-line room than this room right here.

“I love it here.”

After years of service, a promotion might finally be at his fingertips. The Bombers cut veteran Canadian centre Chris Kolankowski — now with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats — in January.

Even though Eli is the most likely candidate to take over at that spot, the opportunity in front of him is bittersweet.

“It’s always sad when such a fun guy to be around every day (isn’t here),” said Eli. “I felt more sad than anything.”

And while getting a chance at the expense of a dear friend isn’t ideal, this is pro football, and Eli is doing what he can to prove he’s the guy.

He added an additional 10 pounds to his frame this winter to weigh in at 314 pounds. He also has some added motivation after recently becoming a father.

He and his wife welcomed their first child into the world: Tui, Jr.

“I was in the weight room quite a bit more, as opposed to usual road running and push-ups in the off-season,” he said. “And I ate a lot of steak — shout out to Marcello’s.”

Left guard Gabe Wallace, a 26-year-old from Salmon, B.C., started 15 games last season and is all for lining up beside Eli in 2026.

“Any situation in life that you can think of, you’d want him in your corner,” said Wallace.

“On the field, he’ll drive someone in the dirt for you. And there’s other things, like my rookie year, every single question I had, he’d come up with an answer for me or tell me how to get the answer. He was teaching me the way to do it right.”

Eli has worked with the starting unit throughout training camp, but that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed. The Bombers have flexibility with the ratio and could choose to roll with three Americans on the O-line if they prefer to roll with Tyler Elsbury or Bucky Williams at centre.

“The cream of the crop will rise to the top,” said Eli.

“Whoever’s the best at that position for this team is gonna be there and I’m gonna do by best to fill that role.”

Bombers sign first rounder

The Bombers officially signed Canadian defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth on Tuesday.

Gatkuoth, a 6-4, 227-pounder from Edmonton, was chosen fourth overall by the Blue and Gold in last month’s CFL Canadian Draft.

He was most recently with the Denver Broncos for rookie mini-camp. He’s expected to join the Bombers for training camp in the coming days.

After three seasons at Colorado State (2022-24), Gatkuoth finished his NCAA career at Wake Forest and registered 39 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games. He was named a finalist for the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian player in NCAA football.

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