Football

Bomber Report

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

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

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.

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Bombers sign rookie QB Elgersma

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Preview

Bombers sign rookie QB Elgersma

Taylor Allen 2 minute read Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

The wait is finally over: Taylor Elgersma is officially a Winnipeg Blue Bomber.

The club signed the Canadian quarterback to a standard rookie contract on Thursday (two years plus an option). Elgersma, who was selected in the second round, 18th overall in the 2025 CFL Draft out of Wilfrid Laurier, was most recently with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions but was unable to play due to work visa issues.

He will report to Bombers rookie camp on May 6 and compete with Terry Wilson, as well as fellow CFL newcomers Bryce Perkins and Payton Thorne, for the No. 2 job behind starting pivot Zach Collaros.

Elgersma signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent last year and appeared in three pre-season games, completing 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions, before being released. Instead of joining the Bombers in 2025, he held out hope he’d get another NFL opportunity. He went on to work out for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins but failed to receive a contract offer.

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Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

Vaccaro ‘fits the bill’

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Vaccaro ‘fits the bill’

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

When the Canadian Football League Draft begins later this month, the first selection could very well be one of Winnipeg’s own.

With team draft boards coming into focus, there is a growing belief that Gio Vaccaro, the former Manitoba Bisons standout who transferred to Purdue for his final season of college eligibility, will be the first name called on April 28.

“To me, I think that he is certainly one of the first offensive linemen off the board, and it’s not unreasonable that he would be a guy that would get some consideration as the top pick. In terms of what he is physically and athletically, he fits the bill,” TSN draft analyst Duane Forde told the Free Press.

The 6-2, 307-pound guard was a two-time first-team All-Canadian selection and 2024 winner of the J.P. Metras Trophy (awarded to the nation’s top offensive lineman) with the Bisons. Although Vaccaro’s move to the NCAA Power 4 ranks didn’t yield a starting job, he saw time on the Boilermakers’ special teams units and played valuable snaps in the team’s regular-season finale against Indiana — the eventual national champions.

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Thursday, Apr. 16, 2026

Bombers 2025 report reveals franchise record operating profit

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Bombers 2025 report reveals franchise record operating profit

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

The Winnipeg Football Club has over 12 million reasons to smile.

Their 2025 annual report was released early Wednesday and it revealed an operating profit of $12.1 million — a franchise record.

That number is boosted by the Blue Bombers hosting the 2025 Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival which resulted in $6.3 million in net revenue. The club also made history by selling out every game — a first in team history — to lead the CFL in attendance for a fourth consecutive year.

“It’s a lot of hard work and it’s been a lot of years of our staff working tremendously hard at each component of our business to create the unbelievable atmosphere on game day that is truly second to none in sports in Canada, in my opinion,” WFC president and CEO Wade Miller told the Free Press.

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Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

Trio developed at St. Paul’s heads to CFL Combine ready to make some noise

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Trio developed at St. Paul’s heads to CFL Combine ready to make some noise

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

When you think of Winnipeggers playing in the CFL, there’s one local high school that should immediately come to mind: Oak Park.

Andrew Harris, Nic Demski and Brady Oliveira all picked up steam during their time with the Raiders before becoming stars at the pro level.

If it’s up to this year’s draft class, however, St. Paul’s High School might just become the new talk of the town.

Five Manitobans scored invites to this weekend’s CFL Combine in Edmonton, and three of them — offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro, defensive back Trae Tomlinson and defensive lineman Nathan Carabatsakis — used to walk the halls at St. Paul’s before closing out their high school careers at Clearwater Academy International in Florida to get a taste of competing at a higher level.

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Bombers’ O’Shea, Walters have nothing but praise for pivot as they talk QBs to combine

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Bombers’ O’Shea, Walters have nothing but praise for pivot as they talk QBs to combine

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

It’s been five years since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have held a top-four pick.

After this weekend’s CFL Combine in Edmonton — where 82 prospects will try to impress their future employers — the Bombers should have a much clearer idea of whose name they’ll be calling at No. 4 when draft day rolls around on April 28.

But before anyone’s 40-yard dash time was clocked, coaches and general managers from across the league took turns speaking to reporters via video conference calls on Wednesday to discuss a wide variety of topics, including the combine and upcoming draft. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation with Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea and general manager Kyle Waters.

Saluting Streveler

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Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2026

Running back Rachaad White leaves the Buccaneers to sign with the Commanders

Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

Rachaad White is leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after veteran receiver Mike Evans also departed, and the running back hopes joining close friend Jayden Daniels is the right next step in his NFL career.

White signed with the Washington Commanders on Friday, not long after Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers. He's reuniting with Daniels, the franchise quarterback who he became tight with when they were playing together at Arizona State in 2020 and '21.

Daniels' presence was a draw, but so was the chance to be part of an offense with the potential to be dynamic. After sharing the backfield with Bucky Irving with Tampa Bay, White enters a similar situation in Washington, where he’s expected to split carries with Jacory Croskey-Merritt, better known as “Bill.”

"I’m grateful to get an opportunity to play here, obviously, and a fresh start," White said on a video call with reporters. “It’s a great situation. We kept each other fresh over in Tampa. I’m pretty sure Bill and I, we’re going to do the same thing here. It’s just a grateful situation. Obviously, we competed and you learn a lot about yourself. But I’m happy about a new start.”

Trade bet unravels as the Titans move on from L’Jarius Sneed after 2 seasons, AP source says

Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press 2 minute read Friday, Mar. 13, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans released cornerback L'Jarius Sneed after two disappointing seasons in a move that frees up more salary cap space, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Friday.

Sneed played only 12 games combined in 2024 and 2025 without a single interception and was placed on injured reserve in October.

The person who confirmed the move spoke on condition of anonymity because Sneed's release has not been announced.

The Titans gave the two-time Super Bowl champion a four-year contract, making him the NFL’s fifth-highest paid cornerback in March 2024 after a trade with Kansas City. Sneed's deal gave him an average of $19.4 million as part of the Titans' last big spending spree.

‘We’re in it to win it this year’

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‘We’re in it to win it this year’

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Zach Collaros should be one happy camper these days.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers started the off-season by hiring his pal Tommy Condell to be the club’s new offensive co-ordinator, then went on a massive spending spree in free agency to acquire offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, defensive tackle Jake Ceresna, receivers Tim White and Tommy Nield, cornerback Jonathan Moxey, and linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox.

It’s safe to say the veteran quarterback is a huge fan of the work general manager Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea have done in recent months.

“I don’t know if it’s a statement, but for myself, being a little longer in the tooth in this game, and some of the other guys that have been here for a long period of time, I think it just sends a message like, ‘Hey, we’re trying to win now. We want to continue competing for Western championships and competing for Grey Cups,’” said Collaros, who’s in Winnipeg this week for marketing obligations with the club.

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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

‘Heart and soul’ receiver retires with final salute to Winnipeg

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‘Heart and soul’ receiver retires with final salute to Winnipeg

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

Drew Wolitarsky didn’t get a fairytale ending to his playing career.

Released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after seven seasons with the team, the receiver from Santa Clarita, Calif., spent 2025 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where injuries limited him to two games.

“Ohhh… man, that was the hardest year, probably, of my career. No, not even ‘probably.’ It was the hardest year of my career,” Wolitarsky said in a Zoom call on Thursday while vacationing on Madeira Island in Portugal.

While every athlete dreams of being showered with championship confetti and champagne on their way out, Wolitarsky got perhaps the next best thing: the Bombers signed the 30-year-old to a one-day contract Thursday so he could properly retire as a member of the organization that means the most to him.

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Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026

Tommy Touchdown ready for takeoff with Blue

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Tommy Touchdown ready for takeoff with Blue

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

Tommy Nield has already caught some flak from Riderville for leaving for their Prairie rival.

“(Jermarcus Hardrick) called me a traitor,” said Nield with a laugh in a Zoom call with the Free Press.

“But obviously, he’s one of the guys that only had good things to say about this place. At the end of the day, he was happy for me.”

Nield, a 26-year-old receiver from Guelph, Ont., recently signed a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in free agency that will reportedly pay him $175,000 in 2026 and $187,500 in 2027. The hefty pay bump came his way after a breakout campaign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

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Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

Cross-country ski history a family affair for Poplawski

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Cross-country ski history a family affair for Poplawski

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

MILAN — Joe Poplawski experienced plenty of surreal moments during his professional football career. The proud Winnipegger — one of the most popular Winnipeg Blue Bombers players in franchise history — has a trophy case filled with accolades.

But nothing prepared the Hall of Fame wide receiver for what he witnessed this week in Italy: watching his daughter-in-law gut through a painful injury and still climb the podium at the Winter Olympics in the women’s 10-kilometre interval start free cross-country skiing event.

“Just an incredible event to witness,” he told the Free Press on Friday. “I’ll tell you what, I sure was pumped after she ended up winning bronze.”

At this point, you might be saying, ‘Wait — Canada didn’t medal in that event.’ And that’s true. Jessie Diggins was born in Saint Paul, Minn., and while she holds dual citizenship after once living in Thunder Bay, Ont., she competes internationally for the United States.

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Friday, Feb. 13, 2026

Bombers offer caught lineman off guard

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Bombers offer caught lineman off guard

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

Jarell Broxton didn’t become the CFL’s highest paid American offensive lineman overnight.

It was a long, long journey for the 32-year-old from Maryland — one of the newest members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — to get here.

His pro career started with his hometown Baltimore Ravens. He got some pre-season action and spent 2016 on the practice roster before being let go. Two years later, he was back in Baltimore, only this time with the city’s Arena Football League squad called the Brigade. After a lone season indoors, he signed with the Bombers in Feb. 2020 only to soon find out that there wouldn’t be a season that year.

He then went to the B.C. Lions in 2021, only to suffer a torn bicep in his CFL debut on Aug. 28 against the Ottawa Redblacks.

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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

Status quo wasn’t getting it done, Bombers GM admits

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Status quo wasn’t getting it done, Bombers GM admits

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

It was around this time last year when diehards in Bomberland were left wondering the same thing.

‘That’s it?’

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were gearing up to host the 2025 Grey Cup and yet their free agency class consisted of defensive end James Vaughters, running back Peyton Logan and receivers Dillon Mitchell and Jerreth Sterns.

The lack of difference makers in that group, along with superstar receiver Kenny Lawler and standout Canadian corner Tyrell Ford walking out the door, led to a fourth-place finish in the West and an opening round playoff loss.

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Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026

‘My heart was always wanting to get back to Winnipeg’

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‘My heart was always wanting to get back to Winnipeg’

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026

It wasn’t easy for Jovan Santos-Knox to watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers begin their Grey Cup run the year after he left.

It stung even more in 2021, when the linebacker and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats fell 33-25 in overtime on their home field to those same Bombers in the championship game.

“To have it that close and to be just there, I’ve been itching for that feeling of being able to hoist it,” Santos-Knox told reporters in a Zoom call early Wednesday.

“And just seeing my friends do it, too, it’s tough all those years seeing all your buddies from Winnipeg hoist it up. You’re like, ‘Hey, wish I could be part of that.’”

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Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026

‘Hoping to be here for a long time’

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‘Hoping to be here for a long time’

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

Zach Collaros had a simple recruiting pitch for Jake Ceresna.

The two-time CFL all-star defensive lineman was on the open market and the quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers reached out with a proposition.

“Zach’s saying, ‘Hey, how about you join my team and stop hitting me?’” revealed Ceresna in a Tuesday morning presser at Princess Auto Stadium.

While that didn’t exactly sway Ceresna, it certainly helped that Collaros, and others like running back Brady Oliveira, made it clear that they wanted him in blue and gold. Once he did sign, the messages began to flood in from names like left tackle Stanley Bryant, defensive back Deatrick Nichols, and new defensive line coach Jake Thomas.

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Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026

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