CFL

Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Nick Hallett (21) believes he has something to prove after feeling like he wasn’t as good last season with the Blue and Gold.

Bombers’ Hallett back with a chip on his shoulder

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Yesterday at 6:12 PM CDT

Nick Hallett was the last returning Blue Bomber to be offered a contract this off-season.

It looked like the club was moving on from the 32-year-old special teams ace when finally, a deal got done on Feb. 11.

Even though he had to wait the longest for it to be his turn, the defensive back from London, Ont., has no complaints. If anything, he understands why it might have gone down to the wire.

“I’m really happy to just be back on the team this year,” Hallett told the Free Press after Wednesday’s training camp session.

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Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Wide receiver Christian Fredericksen (left) said training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is ‘like a dream come true.’

Fredericksen not ready to say goodbye to the gridiron

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Fredericksen not ready to say goodbye to the gridiron

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are fortunate that Christian Fredericksen wasn’t discouraged by his first CFL free agent camp.

A year ago, the wide receiver from Rigby, Idaho, made the long drive to Seattle with his cleats and a $100 registration fee to attend an audition hosted by the B.C. Lions — an experience that proved less than ideal.

“It just felt like a cash grab,” Fredericksen admitted after Tuesday’s training camp session.

“About 80 per cent of the players there hadn’t played past high school. I was bummed because it didn’t matter how well I did.”

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Tuesday, May. 19, 2026

Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers picked up defensive lineman Kemari Munier-Bailey from Birmingham, England, in last year’s CFL Global Draft.

Bombers’ Munier-Bailey looking to prove pro dreams possible to siblings back home

Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Preview

Bombers’ Munier-Bailey looking to prove pro dreams possible to siblings back home

Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Friday, May. 15, 2026

A year ago, Kemari Munier-Bailey arrived at Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp trying to adjust to a new league, new coaches and a new country.

After spending most of last season on the practice roster learning the CFL game, the Global defensive lineman from Birmingham, England, enters camp this year in a much different position — competing to earn a roster spot.

Munier-Bailey smiled as he recalled watching games last season with teammates, saying the loud crowds and atmosphere at Princess Auto Stadium kept motivating him to push through another week.

“You’re still doing something great, you still started something great,” Munier-Bailey said of the mindset he tried to maintain while on the practice roster. “That’s how I was trying to look at it.”

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Friday, May. 15, 2026

Bomber Report

Ruth Bonneville / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive lineman Tui Eli (65) is gearing up for his sixth season with the club. Eli signed a two-year extension with the Blue and Gold this past off-season.

Only compliments from Bombers roster for offensive lineman Eli

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Only compliments from Bombers roster for offensive lineman Eli

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

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.

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Tuesday, May. 12, 2026

Bomber Report

Ruth Bonneville Free Press De’Shaan Dixon, at Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp on Monday, is willing to accept any role that’s offered.

Dixon turning heads at Bomber camp

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Dixon turning heads at Bomber camp

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Monday, May. 11, 2026

You want to make a statement in training camp?

Just take a page out of De’Shaan Dixon’s playbook and steamroll the most decorated offensive lineman in CFL history in a one-on-one drill.

That’ll get people talking.

“I was surprised, but it’s all good,” admitted left tackle Stanley Bryant after Monday’s session. The rep in question occurred on Day 1 on Sunday.

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Monday, May. 11, 2026

Bomber Report

John Woods . THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Kydran Jenkins sacks Montreal Alouettes quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson during CFL action in Winnipeg last October.

Jenkins ready for more football

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Jenkins ready for more football

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

The game was meaningless in the standings but meant the world to defensive end Kydran Jenkins.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers rested the majority of their starters in last year’s regular-season finale at home against the Montreal Alouettes. That led to Jenkins — a promising prospect out of Purdue who had signed with the Blue and Gold two and a half weeks earlier —being thrust into a starting role.

“I kind of got thrown in the fire, but I ended up playing good that game,” said Jenkins, who was out of football for several months prior to that after attending Carolina Panthers rookie minicamp.

He certainly did. He had several pressures and managed to record his first career sack.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Quarterback Payton Thorne during the first day of Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp at Princess Auto Stadium on Wednesday.

Thorne has a backup plan

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Thorne has a backup plan

Taylor Allen 5 minute read Thursday, May. 7, 2026

If Payton Thorne has it his way, he won’t have much time for his Super Bowl MVP-winning friend this summer.

The 24-year-old quarterback from Naperville, Ill., hopes he’ll be too busy in Winnipeg as a member of the Blue Bombers.

Thorne, along with Terry Wilson, Taylor Elgersma and Bryce Perkins, are battling for the second- and third-string roles behind starting pivot Zach Collaros.

Thorne, a four-year college starter between Michigan State and Auburn, first got scouts talking in 2021 as a sophomore when he led the Spartans to an 11-2 record alongside star running back Kenneth Walker III.

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Thursday, May. 7, 2026

Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Quarterback Bryce Perkins (9) said part of what drew him to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — aside from being friends with recently retired Blue and Gold darling Chris Streveler — was the atmosphere on game days.

‘Seeing how much the Winnipeg community gets around their football’

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

‘Seeing how much the Winnipeg community gets around their football’

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

Bryce Perkins isn’t taking the easy route.

The 2025 United Football League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year could’ve stayed down south and started somewhere in the spring league, but instead, the 29-year-old quarterback is in Winnipeg starting from scratch.

“My dad (Bruce Perkins, a former fullback) played for Hamilton, so he was telling me about the CFL. They love their football up here and that’s kind of what you want to play for,” said Perkins after Day 1 of Blue Bombers rookie camp at Princess Auto Stadium.

“I just felt like where I’m at in my career, for a career-wise goal in whatever these next couple years hold, I want to be a part of a league, a team, an organization that really gets behind football. It’s a longstanding league that loves ball, the guys are great, and it’s a fun, new challenge for me as well.”

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Wednesday, May. 6, 2026

Bomber Report

Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira in a social media post: “Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams… not the number of automatic spots.”

No disguising motive in CFL playoff change

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Preview

No disguising motive in CFL playoff change

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Friday, May. 1, 2026

The CFL’s reasoning for changing its playoff format starting in 2027 boils down to one thing: money.

They’re not the first league in recent memory to squeeze more out of its post-season in search of higher revenue.

The NCAA is expected to expand its cash cow, March Madness, to 76 teams next season — a move many purists oppose. That comes a few years after it tripled the size of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12.

At the pro level, the National Football League (2020) and Major League Baseball (2022) each added two wildcard spots, lowering the bar for entry. The National Basketball Association took a different approach, introducing a play-in tournament in 2020 involving the No. 7 through 10 seeds to decide the final playoff spots.

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Friday, May. 1, 2026

CFL

ZACH PETERS PHOTO Nathan Udoh (10)

Star Bisons’ receiver Udoh headed to Alouettes camp

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Star Bisons’ receiver Udoh headed to Alouettes camp

Taylor Allen 6 minute read Thursday, Apr. 30, 2026

Dan Washnuk could see the potential in Nathan Udoh the first time he spotted him walking the hallways at Miles Macdonell Collegiate.

There was just one problem for the high school football coach: Udoh preferred futbol — and he was darn good at it.

The defensive midfielder for Bonivital Soccer Club even had a scholarship offer from the University of Alberta.

“I had been trying to get him to play football for at least a year. Most times when you have that high-level athlete you’re trying to recruit, and they tell you no because they’re playing at a provincial or national level in another sport, I’m usually pretty good about moving on and understanding,” said Washnuk.

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Thursday, Apr. 30, 2026

Bomber Report

Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira Ruth Bonneville / Free Press SPORTS - BOMBERS / Oliveira Brady Oliveira, The Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back, is excited after signing a three-year contract extension through the 2028 Canadian Football League season at the media conference Tuesday. See Tyler’s story Dec 16th, 2025

Oliveira not a fan of new playoff format

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Oliveira not a fan of new playoff format

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

Brady Oliveira is not a fan of the CFL’s expanded playoff format that will come into effect in 2027.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers star running back took to X on Wednesday to voice his displeasure.

“Eight out of nine teams in the Canadian Football League playoffs takes away from what makes those games special,” wrote Oliveira. “Playoff football is supposed to be earned. If anything, grow the league by adding more teams, not the number of automatic spots.”

Oliveira’s post was in response to one that was made by Milt Stegall, the Bombers legend/CFL on TSN media personality on Tuesday when the announcement was made.

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Wednesday, Apr. 29, 2026

Bomber Report

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Decorated linebacker Adam Bighill was emotional Tuesday at Princess Auto Stadium as he officially hung up his cleats on his CFL career as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber.

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

Taylor Allen 7 minute read Preview

‘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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Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2026

Bomber Report

Quarterback Taylor Elgersma warms up at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. The Bombers signed Elgersma to a rookie contract, Thursday. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Bombers sign rookie QB Elgersma

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Bombers sign rookie QB Elgersma

Taylor Allen 3 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

CFL

Purdue Athletics Photo If offensive lineman Gio Vaccaro is picked first overall at the 2026 CFL Draft, it would be the first time a former Manitoba Bison has ever been selected with the top pick.

Vaccaro ‘fits the bill’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Vaccaro ‘fits the bill’

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 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

Bomber Report

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Football Club president and CEO Wade Miller said hosting the 2025 Grey Cup contributed towards the club’s record $12.1 million operating profit.

Bombers 2025 report reveals franchise record operating profit

Taylor Allen 4 minute read Preview

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

CFL

Ben Massey / University of Louisiana-Lafayette Athletics Winnipeg’s Trae Tomlinson of the Lousiana Ragin’ Cajuns says being a bit smaller than a typical college defensive back pushed him to work harder to get where he wanted to go.

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

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