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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional
Canadian football Canadian football, or simply football, is a Sports in Canada, sport in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete on a field long and wide, attempting to advance a Ball (gridiron football), pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposi ...
team based in
Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the
Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...
(CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at
Princess Auto Stadium Princess Auto Stadium (formerly IG Field) is an outdoor stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The stadium, which opened in 2013, is located on the University of Manitoba campus next to University Stadium (Winnipeg), University Stadium. The stadium is h ...
. The Blue Bombers were founded in 1930 as the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club, later changed to the Winnipeg Football Club, which is the organization's legal name. The Blue Bombers are one of two
community owned Community-owned assets or organizations are those that are owned and controlled through some representative mechanisms that allow a community to influence their operation or use and to enjoy the benefits arising. Benefits of ownership in infrastru ...
teams, without shareholders, in the CFL. Since their establishment, the Blue Bombers have won the
Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...
championship 12 times, most recently in
2021 CFL season The 2021 CFL season was the 67th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 63rd season of the Canadian Football League. The regular season began on August 5 and ended November 20. Each team played 14 regular season games o ...
when they defeated the
Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...
33–25 in the
108th Grey Cup The 108th Grey Cup decided the Canadian Football League (CFL) championship for the 2021 season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was cancelled and the start of the 2021 season was delayed, pushing the game to December 12, 2021. The ...
. The team holds the record for most Grey Cup appearances of any team (29) and Winnipeg were the first club in Western Canada to win a championship.


Team facts

:Founded: 1930 :Formerly unofficially known as: Winnipegs 1930–1935 :Helmet design: Gold background, with a white "W" and blue trim :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: River Park & Wesley Park (1930–1935), Osborne Stadium (1935–1952),
Canad Inns Stadium Winnipeg Stadium (also known as Canad Inns Stadium) was a Multi-purpose stadium, multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street (Winnipeg), St. James Street and Maroons Road ...
(1953–2012, known as Winnipeg Stadium prior to 2000),
Princess Auto Stadium Princess Auto Stadium (formerly IG Field) is an outdoor stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The stadium, which opened in 2013, is located on the University of Manitoba campus next to University Stadium (Winnipeg), University Stadium. The stadium is h ...
(2013–present, known as Investors Group Field from 2013–19 and as IG Field from 2019–24) :Local radio: 680 CJOB : Main rivals:
Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in 19 ...
(see
Labour Day Classic The Labour Day Classic (, branded as OK Tire Labour Day Weekend for sponsorship reasons) is a week of the Canadian Football League (CFL) schedule played over the Labour Day weekend (which includes the first Monday in September). Labour Day weeke ...
and
Banjo Bowl The Banjo Bowl is the annual rematch game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) after the Labour Day Classic. While the traditional Labour Day Classic game is always played on the ...
),
Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...
(a team they have played on numerous occasions for the Grey Cup). : Western Division 1st place: 18—1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 : East Division 1st Place: 7—1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2011 : Western Division championships: 22—1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1984, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 : Eastern Division championships: 7 — 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2007, 2011 :
Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...
Championships: 12—
1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...
,
1939 This year also marks the start of the World War II, Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Events related to World War II have a "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Coming into effect in Nazi Ger ...
,
1941 The Correlates of War project estimates this to be the deadliest year in human history in terms of conflict deaths, placing the death toll at 3.49 million. However, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program estimates that the subsequent year, 1942, wa ...
,
1958 Events January * January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being. * January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed. * January 4 ** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the thir ...
,
1959 Events January * January 1 – Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when the forces of Fidel Castro advance. * January 2 – Soviet lunar probe Luna 1 is the first human-made object to attain escape velocity from Earth. It reaches the ...
,
1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
,
1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...
,
1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...
,
1988 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...
,
1990 Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
,
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
,
2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...
: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) : 2024 regular season record: 11 wins, 7 losses


Community ownership

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are operated by the Winnipeg Football Club (WFC). WFC is a
not-for-profit A not-for-profit or non-for-profit organization (NFPO) is a Legal Entity, legal entity that does not distribute surplus funds to its members and is formed to fulfill specific objectives. While not-for-profit organizations and Nonprofit organ ...
community organization incorporated as a Manitoba corporation on March 5, 1951. The object of this organization is the promotion and fostering of football in
Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
. WFC controls Triple B Stadium Inc., a non-share corporation whose object is to develop, construct, and operate a stadium at the
University of Manitoba The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1877, it is the first university of Western Canada. Both by total student enrolment and campus area, the University of ...
,
Princess Auto Stadium Princess Auto Stadium (formerly IG Field) is an outdoor stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The stadium, which opened in 2013, is located on the University of Manitoba campus next to University Stadium (Winnipeg), University Stadium. The stadium is h ...
. The stadium is used by WFC, the
University of Manitoba Bisons The Manitoba Bisons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The football team plays at Princess Auto Stadium, the soccer team plays at the outdoor soccer field on campus, track and field te ...
, amateur athletics, and other public purposes. WFC also controls
Valour FC Valour FC is a Canadian professional soccer club in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays their home matches at Princess Auto Stadium. The team is coached by Phillip Dos Santos and community owned throu ...
Inc., whose object is to operate a professional soccer club in Winnipeg, and participate in the
Canadian Premier League The Canadian Premier League (CPL or CanPL; ) is a professional Association football, soccer league in Canada and the highest level of the Canadian soccer league system. The league comprises eight teams, from five of provinces and territories of ...
(CPL).


History


Beginnings

The first football team in
Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
was formed in 1879, named the
Winnipeg Rugby Football Club The Winnipeg Rugby Football Club was a Canadian football team in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union between 1892 and 1906. The team was originally founded in 1879, was the ''first'' club in Manitoba, and played i ...
. On June 10, 1930, the
Winnipeg Tammany Tigers The Winnipeg Tammany Tigers football team was a Canadian football team in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union and Western Canada Rugby Football Union between 1913 and 1929. On May 14, 1930, the Tammany Tigers disban ...
, who were in financial difficulty, disbanded and merged with some of the other teams in the city to create the new ''Winnipeg Rugby Football Club'', known unofficially and simply as the ''Winnipegs'' or even the shorter '''Pegs'', adopting the colours green and white. The ''Winnipegs'' played their first game against
St.John's Rugby Football Club The St. John's Rugby Football Club was a Canadian football team in Winnipeg, Manitoba, formed in October 1887, that played in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union and Western Canada Rugby Football Union between 1892 and 1932 Events January ...
on June 13, 1930 at Carruthers Park in the North End of the city, losing 7–3. In 1932, the ''Winnipegs'' and St. John's joined and adopted blue and gold as their colours. In
1933 Events January * January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...
they also absorbed the ''Garrison Rugby Club'' football team. The ''Winnipegs'' played in the
Manitoba Rugby Football Union Manitoba Rugby Football Union was a Canadian football league, founded on Monday February 22, 1892. The league merged with the Alberta Rugby Football Union and Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union to form the Western Canada Rugby Football Union on Satu ...
from
1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be on J ...
to
1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...
. Prior to the move to Osborne Stadium in 1935, the team played at Carruthers Park, River Park, and Wesley Park.


First Grey Cup Victory

By 1935 Western teams had been to the Grey Cup game 10 times, but they had always gone home empty-handed. The East was much more powerful, outscoring their opponents 236–29 through those ten games. On December 7, 1935, the ''Winnipegs'' got their first trip, to the
23rd Grey Cup The 23rd Grey Cup was played on December 7, 1935, at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds, with 6,405 fans in attendance. It marked the first time that a team from west of Ontario won the Grey Cup. The Winnipeg 'Pegs defeated the Hamil ...
. The game was being held in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...
, with the home-town
Tigers The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is a large cat and a member of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Asia. It has a powerful, muscular body with a large head and paws, a long tail and orange fur with black, mostly vertical stripes. It is tradition ...
their opponents. It was a rainy day at
Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds The Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds (also known as Hamilton AAA Grounds or HAAA) is a park located on the north side of Charlton Avenue West, between Locke Street South and Queen Street South, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The park ...
, 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, and a Winnipeg player promptly recovered the ball at the Hamilton 15-yard line. Winnipeg scored quickly on a Bob Fritz pass to
Bud Marquardt Wilbur Paul "Bud" Marquardt (December 15, 1913 – October 21, 1989) was a Canadian football player who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won the Grey Cup with them in 1939 and 1941 and is a member of the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame. He att ...
to get the early lead. After scoring another touchdown on a
Greg Kabat Gregory Stanley Kabat (May 21, 1911 – January 12, 1994) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played Canadian football professionally as a running back for eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football L ...
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
Fritz Hanson Melvin "Fritz" Hanson (July 13, 1914 – February 14, 1996) was a Canadian football player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. Hanson was signed by the Blue Bombers for $125 a game and free room and board, which was a consi ...
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 forced a safety to bring themselves within six points, but failed to cross the goal-line, 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 Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a list of regions of Canada, Canadian region that includes the four western provinces and t ...
to win the Grey Cup.


Early days of glory

After the Grey Cup victory in 1935, ''
The Winnipeg Tribune ''The Winnipeg Tribune'' was a metropolitan daily newspaper serving Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from January 28, 1890, to August 27, 1980. The paper was founded by R.L. Richardson and D.L. McIntyre who acquired the press and premises of the old ' ...
'' sports writer
Vince Leah Vincent Leah (November 29, 1913August 9, 1993) was a Canadian journalist, writer and sports administrator. He wrote for '' The Winnipeg Tribune'' from 1930 to 1980, and was credited with giving the Winnipeg Blue Bombers their team's name. He e ...
called the team the "Blue Bombers of Western football". Until then, the team had no official nickname, but they quickly began using "Winnipeg Blue Bombers". Journalist Jim Coleman wrote that the name came at a time when boxer
Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Nicknamed "the Brown Bomber", Louis is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He r ...
had international success with his similar nickname, the Brown Bomber. In 1935, the Blue Bombers, Calgary Bronks, and
Regina Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in 19 ...
formed the
Western Interprovincial Football Union The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), its counterpart being the East Division. With a few exceptions, a senior men's football championship has been contested in Western Canada since 1911 ...
at the highest level of play in Western Canada. Between 1936 and 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 The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded on September 19, 1876. Formerly one of the oldest and longest-lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup cham ...
, and again in their 1941 rematch.
Jack Jacobs Jack Jacobs (August 7, 1919 – January 12, 1974), nicknamed "Indian Jack", was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a char ...
, known as Indian Jack, was a
Creek A creek in North America and elsewhere, such as Australia, is a stream that is usually smaller than a river. In the British Isles it is a small tidal inlet. Creek may also refer to: * Creek people, a former name of Muscogee, Native Americans * C ...
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 Winnipeg Stadium (also known as Canad Inns Stadium) was a Multi-purpose stadium, multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street (Winnipeg), St. James Street and Maroons Road ...
). Jacobs was so well-liked that 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.


Bud Grant era

Bud Grant Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Viki ...
joined the team in 1953 after a two-year stint with the
Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
, 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 (classified only as "offensive end" at the time), 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 The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
. In 1956, Blue Bombers fans named
Labatt's Labatt Brewing Company Limited () is a Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned brewery headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1847, Labatt is the largest brewer in Canada. In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew. In 2004, Interb ...
Pilsener Lager, which had a blue label, Labatt Blue, in honour of their team. In 1958, the Blue Bombers joined the newly formed Canadian Football League, and have competed there since. During Grant's tenure as head coach, the Bombers welcomed the likes of
Ken Ploen Kenneth Ploen (June 3, 1935 – February 13, 2024) was an American professional gridiron football, football player who was a star quarterback and safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Lost Nation, Iowa ...
, Leo Lewis, Farrell Funston,
Ernie Pitts Ernie Pitts (March 8, 1935 – September 24, 1970) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions in a 14-year career in the CFL from 1957 to 1970. He won four Grey Cups with W ...
,
Charlie Shepard Charles LaFayette Shepard Jr. (July 11, 1933 – June 23, 2009) was an American all-star and Grey Cup champion running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1957 to 1962. A graduate of North Texas State ...
, 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 The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home game ...
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 way 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 Donald Walter Jonas (born December 3, 1938) is an American former football player and coach. Jonas played professionally as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was also the first head coach of the UCF Knights (1979–1981). ...
, running-back
Mack Herron Mack Willie Herron (July 24, 1948 – December 6, 2015) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1970 to 1975. He played college football f ...
, and 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 The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in 19 ...
, squandering a 13-point third-quarter lead en route to a heartbreaking 27–24 loss, with Saskatchewan kicker
Jack Abendschan John Jacob "Jack" Abendschan Jr. (born December 18, 1942) is an American former professional football offensive lineman and placekicker who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1965 through 1975. Pro ...
scoring on a short field goal attempt on the last play of the game to send the 'Riders to the
1972 Grey Cup The 60th Grey Cup was played on December 3, 1972, before 33,993 fans at the Ivor Wynne Stadium at Hamilton. It was the last Grey Cup to be played in December until 2021, which, coincidentally, was also held in Hamilton. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats def ...
against Hamilton. The 1972 season was also the last time the team finished first in the West until the 2021 season. The team struggled for a few more seasons under coaches Jim Spavital and
Bud Riley Edward Jones "Bud" Riley Jr. (November 25, 1925 – August 4, 2012) was an American college football coach who served as an assistant coach at the University of Idaho and Oregon State University. Riley also spent 14 seasons in the Canadian Footb ...
before
Ray Jauch Ray Jauch ( ; born February 11, 1938) is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He was head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the United States Football League (USFL), and the Arena Football League (AFL). He won 127 r ...
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 The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...
coached by
Hugh Campbell Hugh Thomas Campbell (born May 21, 1941) is an American former professional football player, coach, and executive. He served as a head coach in three different football leagues: the Canadian Football League (CFL), United States Football League ...
. 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 Cal Murphy (March 12, 1932 – February 18, 2012) was a Canadian football coach, general manager and scout, most notably for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led ...
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 Ralph Dieter Brock (born February 12, 1951) is an American former football player and coach. He played professionally as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL). He is best remembered as the quar ...
at midseason (because of Brock's desire to play in the USFL) to Hamilton in exchange for QB
Tom Clements Thomas Albert Clements (born June 18, 1953) is an American former professional football quarterback and coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saint ...
. Trading Brock turned out to be a wise decision; Clements led the Bombers to a 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 last win and appearance in the championship game as the Western representative until their victory in the
107th Grey Cup The 107th Grey Cup decided the champion of the 2019 season in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The match was played on November 24, 2019, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Win ...
. Murphy was named coach of the year in both 1983 and 1984. In 1987, Murphy stepped down as head coach to become general manager, and assistant coach Mike Riley (son of former Winnipeg coach
Bud Riley Edward Jones "Bud" Riley Jr. (November 25, 1925 – August 4, 2012) was an American college football coach who served as an assistant coach at the University of Idaho and Oregon State University. Riley also spent 14 seasons in the Canadian Footb ...
) took over head-coaching duties. Then, just prior to the start of the 1987 season, the
Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...
folded. With the East Division suddenly down to three teams compared to five in the West, the league moved the Blue Bombers (who had been the easternmost team in the West) into the East Division, to balance the league. 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 in both championship seasons. After Riley left,
Darryl Rogers Darryl Dale Rogers (May 28, 1934 – July 10, 2018) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at California State College at Hayward—now known as California State University, East Bay (1965), California State Univer ...
and Urban Bowman each led the team for a season until 1993, when Cal 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 GM in 1988 and 1990. He left the club after the 1996 season, having spent 14 years with the team. Later, he coached the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1999. Winnipeg played 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. When the CFL's American experiment ended a year later, and the Alouettes were re-established, the Blue Bombers returned to the re-constituted West Division. This arrangement also lasted only one season, as Winnipeg returned to the East again for the 1997 season after the
Ottawa Rough Riders The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded on September 19, 1876. Formerly one of the oldest and longest-lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup cham ...
ceased operations.


Milt Stegall era

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 Eric Blount (born September 22, 1970) is a former all-star running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL). A North Carolina Tar Heel in college, Blount was drafted by and played two seasons with the Phoeni ...
, and Milt Stegall.
Milt Stegall Milton Eugene Stegall (born January 25, 1970) is a former professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Cana ...
joined the Bombers in 1995 after a three-year career returning kicks and seeing spot duty at receiver with the
Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
. 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 Khari Okang Jones ( ; born May 16, 1971) is an American former professional Canadian football player and is the quarterbacks coach for the UBC Thunderbirds of U Sports. He was formerly the head coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Fo ...
from the
BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...
. 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 honoured 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 Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...
. The following season, Winnipeg returned to the West Division following the establishment of the
Ottawa Renegades The Ottawa Renegades were a Canadian Football League franchise based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, six years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded. After four seasons, the Renegades franchise was suspended indefinitely by the league d ...
. 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 Kevin Glenn, Jr. (born June 12, 1979) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played c ...
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 The 2007 CFL season was the 54th season of modern-day Canadian football, the 50th season of the Canadian Football League, and many special events were held to commemorate the event. Regular-season play began on June 28 at the Rogers Centre in ...
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 Allen Pitts (born June 28, 1964) is an American former professional football wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1990 to 2000. He attended Cal-State Fullerton and played his entire professional car ...
. The 2007 season was rumoured to 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 The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in 19 ...
23–19 in the
Rogers Centre Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a retractable roof stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it is home to t ...
in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. 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 return 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 Ezekiel Aaron Moreno (born October 8, 1978) is an American former professional gridiron football, football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Early life Moreno, who is of Mexica ...
. 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. 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 Paul LaPolice (born June 12, 1970) is an American former gridiron football, football coach who is a broadcaster for The Sports Network, TSN. He has served as the head coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Footb ...
was introduced as the 28th
head coach A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
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 The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The N ...
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. The team success hinged on a league-leading defence dubbed Swaggerville, which led them to their first division title in 10 years. The team advanced to the
99th Grey Cup The 99th Grey Cup was a Canadian football game between the Canadian Football League East Division, East Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Canadian Football League West Division, West Division champion BC Lions to decide the champion ...
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. 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. 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, when he was named the general manager. Mike O'Shea was hired by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on December 4, 2013, to become the team's 30th head coach. O'Shea helped the team return to the playoffs when he made the switch to
Matt Nichols Matt Nichols (born March 19, 1987) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Nichols played college football at Eastern Washington. He was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Winnipeg ...
as the starting quarterback. The team still failed to advance to a
Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...
despite the rise in success. During the
2019 season Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number) * One of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (1987 film), a 1987 science fiction film * '' 19-Nineteen'', a 2009 South Korean film * '' Dici ...
, an injury to Matt Nichols and a suspension to Andrew Harris seemed to end their season. The Bombers traded for
Zach Collaros Zachary J. Collaros (born August 27, 1988) is an American professional Canadian football, football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Collaros won the 107th Grey Cup and 108th Grey Cup as the startin ...
right before the trade deadline, who joined his third team for the year. Collaros formed a quarterback pairing with
Chris Streveler Christopher L. Streveler (born January 6, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Minnesota and South Dakota. After going undrafted ...
. The two quarterbacks' play, behind the dominant performance of the defence saw the team win their 11th championship at the
107th Grey Cup The 107th Grey Cup decided the champion of the 2019 season in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The match was played on November 24, 2019, between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. Win ...
, breaking a 28-year drought. Hometown player Harris became the first player ever to win the
Grey Cup MVP The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is awarded annually since 1959 to the player of the winning team who deemed to have had the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game. This award is prese ...
and
Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian The Dick Suderman Trophy () for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League. This award is presented bef ...
. After the CFL cancelled its 2020 season, the league returned in 2021, and the Bombers finished atop the West with an 11–3 record, claiming their first first-place West Division finish since 1972. The team outlasted their arch-rival Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final 21–17, setting up a rematch of the 2019 Grey Cup game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Bombers won the 2021 Grey Cup in overtime 33–25, the first back-to-back Grey Cup champions since the
Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...
won the 97th and 98th Grey Cup, and the first West Division team to win them since the
Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...
' 1978–1982 run of five straight. In 2022, the team finished atop the West again with a 15–3 record, reaching the Grey Cup Final for the third straight season, but the team's hopes of a three-peat were dashed on a last-minute blocked field goal at the hands of the Toronto Argonauts, 24–23. They reached the
Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...
yet again in 2023, winning the West Division with a 14–4 record, but this time, they were upset by the Alouettes courtesy of a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the game to make it 28–24.


Current personnel


Football operation staff


Roster


Management


Head coaches

*Jack Millidge (1930) *Pete Barnes (1931) * Carl Cronin (1932–1933) *
Greg Kabat Gregory Stanley Kabat (May 21, 1911 – January 12, 1994) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played Canadian football professionally as a running back for eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football L ...
(1934) *Bob Fritz (1935–1937) * Reg Threlfall (1938–1944) * Bert Warwick (1945) * Jack West (1946–1948) *
Frank Larson Frank "Butch" Larson (May 30, 1912 – September 1, 1983) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He was a consensus first-team All-American at the end position at the University of Minnesota in 1934. He later served as the head coac ...
(1949–1950) *
George Trafton George Edward Trafton (December 6, 1896 – September 5, 1971) was an American professional football player and coach, boxer, boxing manager, and gymnasium proprietor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 and was also selec ...
(1951–1953) *
Allie Sherman Alex "Allie" Sherman (February 10, 1923 – January 3, 2015) was an American football player and coach who played 51 games in six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a quarterback and defensive back, and afterward served as head coa ...
(1954–1956) *
Bud Grant Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Viki ...
(1957–1966) * Joe Zaleski (1967–1969) * Jim Spavital (1970–1973) *
Bud Riley Edward Jones "Bud" Riley Jr. (November 25, 1925 – August 4, 2012) was an American college football coach who served as an assistant coach at the University of Idaho and Oregon State University. Riley also spent 14 seasons in the Canadian Footb ...
(1974–1977) *
Ray Jauch Ray Jauch ( ; born February 11, 1938) is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He was head coach in the Canadian Football League (CFL), the United States Football League (USFL), and the Arena Football League (AFL). He won 127 r ...
(1978–1982) *
Cal Murphy Cal Murphy (March 12, 1932 – February 18, 2012) was a Canadian football coach, general manager and scout, most notably for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led ...
(1983–1986, 1993–1996) * Mike Riley (1987–1990) *
Darryl Rogers Darryl Dale Rogers (May 28, 1934 – July 10, 2018) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at California State College at Hayward—now known as California State University, East Bay (1965), California State Univer ...
(1991) * Urban Bowman (1992) * Jeff Reinebold (1997–1998) * Dave Ritchie (1999–2004) *
Jim Daley Jim Daley (born July 15, 1951) is a Canadian football coach, who currently serves as the special teams coordinator and assistant head coach for the St. Francis Xavier X-Men football team. He has previously coached in the Canadian Football Leagu ...
(2004–2005) * Doug Berry (2006–2008) * Mike Kelly (2009) *
Paul LaPolice Paul LaPolice (born June 12, 1970) is an American former gridiron football, football coach who is a broadcaster for The Sports Network, TSN. He has served as the head coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Footb ...
(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 Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Viki ...
(1965–1966) * Joe Zaleski (1967) *
Earl Lunsford Earl Lunsford (October 19, 1933 – September 3, 2008), known as the "Earthquake", was a fullback for the Calgary Stampeders and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. College football Lunsford played during college at with Oklahom ...
(1968–1982) * Paul Robson (1983–1986) *
Cal Murphy Cal Murphy (March 12, 1932 – February 18, 2012) was a Canadian football coach, general manager and scout, most notably for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led ...
(1987–1996) * Jeff Reinebold (1997–1998) *
Ken Bishop Ken Bishop (born September 8, 1990) is an American former professional football defensive tackle who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was sele ...
(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 Jack Jacobs (August 7, 1919 – January 12, 1974), nicknamed "Indian Jack", was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a char ...
dramatically increased attendance at games and precipitated the need for a new, larger stadium.
Winnipeg Stadium Winnipeg Stadium (also known as Canad Inns Stadium) was a multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street and Maroons Road, immediately north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre and the ...
was built in the West End of the city near
Polo Park Polo Park (corporately styled as CF Polo Park) is a shopping centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is situated on the former Polo Park Racetrack near the junction of Portage Avenue and St. James Street. Its grounds also includes a Scotiaba ...
, and the Blue Bombers began play there in 1953. The stadium experienced significant changes throughout its existence, including a renaming to Canad Inns Stadium in 2001. 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 David Asper (born November 26, 1958) is a Canadian lawyer and businessman, and a former acting dean of Robson Hall, the law faculty of the University of Manitoba. Asper is the son of Izzy Asper, the founder of Canwest, and is now the head of ...
(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 ongoing 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. 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. On May 2, 2012, the Blue Bombers announced that because of construction 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. In June 2012, it was announced that the stadium would not open until the 2013 season. The Blue Bombers played their first home game at
Princess Auto Stadium Princess Auto Stadium (formerly IG Field) is an outdoor stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The stadium, which opened in 2013, is located on the University of Manitoba campus next to University Stadium (Winnipeg), University Stadium. The stadium is h ...
(then known as Investor's Group Field) on June 27, 2013, losing 38–33 to the Montreal Alouettes.


Players of note


Canadian Football Hall of Famers

* Paul Bennett – inducted as a player in 2002 *
John Bonk John Bonk (born August 27, 1950) is a Canadian former professional football offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The four-time All-Star played from 1973 to 1985 for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bonk won the CFL's Most Outstandi ...
– inducted as a player in 2008 * Ralph "Dieter" Brock – inducted as a player in 1995 *
Less Browne Less Browne (born December 7, 1959) is an American former professional football defensive back who played in the United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, and ...
– inducted as a player in 2002 * Bob Cameron – inducted as a player in 2010 * Tom "Citation" Casey – inducted as a player in 1964 * Arthur Chipman – inducted as a builder in 1969 *
Tom Clements Thomas Albert Clements (born June 18, 1953) is an American former professional football quarterback and coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saint ...
– inducted as a player in 1994 * Carl Cronin – inducted as a player in 1967 * Andrew Currie – inducted as a builder in 1974 *
Matt Dunigan Matt Dunigan (born December 6, 1960) is an American broadcaster and former professional football player and executive. He was a Canadian Football League (CFL) sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN. Dunigan is a former quarter ...
– inducted as a player in 2006 *
Bill Frank William B. Frank, Jr. (April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2014) was a Canadian football offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in ...
– 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 Gerald Sydney Halter, (April 18, 1905 – October 24, 1990) was a Canadian sports executive and lawyer. He served as the first commissioner of the Canadian Football League from 1958 to 1966, and was president of the Amateur Athletic Union ...
– inducted as a builder in 1966 *
Frank Hannibal Frank, FRANK, or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a Germanic people in late Roman times * Franks, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusa ...
– inducted as a builder in 1963 *
Fritz Hanson Melvin "Fritz" Hanson (July 13, 1914 – February 14, 1996) was a Canadian football player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. Hanson was signed by the Blue Bombers for $125 a game and free room and board, which was a consi ...
– 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 Jack Jacobs (August 7, 1919 – January 12, 1974), nicknamed "Indian Jack", was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a char ...
– inducted as a player in 1963 * Eddie James – inducted as a player in 1963 *
Gerry James Edwin Fitzgerald James (October 22, 1934 – February 13, 2024) was a Canadian professional football and ice hockey player. He played as a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) between 1952 and 1964 a ...
– inducted as a player in 1981 *
Greg Kabat Gregory Stanley Kabat (May 21, 1911 – January 12, 1994) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played Canadian football professionally as a running back for eight seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football L ...
– inducted as a player in 1996 *
Les Lear Leslie Lear (August 22, 1918 – January 5, 1979) was a National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) player and coach as well as an owner and trainer of Thoroughbred race horses. Football He grew up in Manitoba, Canada, w ...
– inducted as a player in 1974 * Leo "Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis – inducted as a player in 1973 *
Earl Lunsford Earl Lunsford (October 19, 1933 – September 3, 2008), known as the "Earthquake", was a fullback for the Calgary Stampeders and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. College football Lunsford played during college at with Oklahom ...
– inducted as a player in 1983 * Chester "Ches" McCance – inducted as a player in 1976 *
Cal Murphy Cal Murphy (March 12, 1932 – February 18, 2012) was a Canadian football coach, general manager and scout, most notably for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led ...
– inducted as a builder in 2004 * James Murphy – inducted as a player in 2000 *
Ken Ploen Kenneth Ploen (June 3, 1935 – February 13, 2024) was an American professional gridiron football, football player who was a star quarterback and safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Lost Nation, Iowa ...
– inducted as a player in 1975 *
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial e ...
– inducted as a player in 1998 * Russ "The Wisconsin Wraith" Rebholz – inducted as a player in 1963 *
Frank Rigney Frank Rigney (April 9, 1936 – June 29, 2010) was an offensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). College Rigney played college ball with another Blue Bomber great, quarterback Ken Ploen at the Universi ...
– inducted as a player in 1984 *
Joseph B. Ryan Joseph Bernard Ryan (11 April 1902 — 2 June 1979) was a Canadian football manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Winnipegs and Montreal Alouettes between the 1930s to 1940s. During his manager tenures, Ryan won the Grey Cup with Winnipe ...
– inducted as a builder in 1968 * Karl Slocomb – inducted as a builder in 1989 *
Milt Stegall Milton Eugene Stegall (born January 25, 1970) is a former professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Cana ...
– 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 Chris Walby (born October 23, 1956) is a retired Canadian Football League player who played the offensive tackle position almost exclusively with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won three Grey Cups with the Bombers in 72nd Grey Cup, 1984, 76th Gre ...
– inducted as a player in 2003 * Bert Warwick – inducted as a builder in 1964 * Charles Roberts – inducted as a player in 2024


All-time 75th-Anniversary team

*
Greg Battle Greg Battle (born April 14, 1964) is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He graduated from Arizona State University. He had a tryout with the Denver Broncos of the NFL but turned ...
* Ralph "Dieter" Brock *
Tom Clements Thomas Albert Clements (born June 18, 1953) is an American former professional football quarterback and coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saint ...
*
Herb Gray Herbert Eser Gray (May 25, 1931 – April 21, 2014) was a Canadian lawyer who became a prominent federal politician. He was a Liberal member of parliament for the Windsor area over the course of four decades, from 1962 to 2002, making Gray ...
* Bob Cameron * Tom Casey *
Fritz Hanson Melvin "Fritz" Hanson (July 13, 1914 – February 14, 1996) was a Canadian football player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. Hanson was signed by the Blue Bombers for $125 a game and free room and board, which was a consi ...
*
Rick House Rick House (born May 18, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football player who was a receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1979 to 1984 and 1989 to 1991. He also played for the Edmonton Eskimos. H ...
*
Jack Jacobs Jack Jacobs (August 7, 1919 – January 12, 1974), nicknamed "Indian Jack", was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Western Interprovincial Football Union. He was a char ...
*
Gerry James Edwin Fitzgerald James (October 22, 1934 – February 13, 2024) was a Canadian professional football and ice hockey player. He played as a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) between 1952 and 1964 a ...
*
Trevor Kennerd Trevor Kennerd (born December 23, 1955) was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star (1981, 1985 Football Reporters of Canada All-Star and 1983 Coaches All-Star) ...
* Leo Lewis * James Murphy *
Ken Ploen Kenneth Ploen (June 3, 1935 – February 13, 2024) was an American professional gridiron football, football player who was a star quarterback and safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Lost Nation, Iowa ...
*
Frank Rigney Frank Rigney (April 9, 1936 – June 29, 2010) was an offensive tackle for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL). College Rigney played college ball with another Blue Bomber great, quarterback Ken Ploen at the Universi ...
* Charles Roberts *
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial e ...
*
Willard Reaves Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959) is an American-Canadian former professional gridiron football running back and politician. Reaves played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canadian Football League (CFL), and for the Miami Dolphins a ...
*
Milt Stegall Milton Eugene Stegall (born January 25, 1970) is a former professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Cana ...
*
Chris Walby Chris Walby (born October 23, 1956) is a retired Canadian Football League player who played the offensive tackle position almost exclusively with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won three Grey Cups with the Bombers in 72nd Grey Cup, 1984, 76th Gre ...


Team members notable elsewhere

*
Ed Schultz Edward Andrew Schultz (January 27, 1954 – July 5, 2018) was an American television and radio host, Pundit, political commentator, news anchor and sports broadcaster. He was the host of ''The Ed Show'', a weekday news talk program on MSN ...
,
talk show A talk show is a television programming, radio programming or podcast genre structured around the act of spontaneous conversation.Bernard M. Timberg, Robert J. Erler'' (2010Television Talk: A History of the TV Talk Show', pp.3-4Erler, Robert (201 ...
host * Ben Hatskin,
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
owner;
World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...
chairman * Tom Europe, '' The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp'' host


All-time 90th-Anniversary team

Presented June 19, 2020, on TSN *
Bud Grant Harry Peter "Bud" Grant Jr. (May 20, 1927 – March 11, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Grant was head coach of the NFL's Minnesota Viki ...
*
Ken Ploen Kenneth Ploen (June 3, 1935 – February 13, 2024) was an American professional gridiron football, football player who was a star quarterback and safety for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Lost Nation, Iowa ...
*
Chris Walby Chris Walby (born October 23, 1956) is a retired Canadian Football League player who played the offensive tackle position almost exclusively with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won three Grey Cups with the Bombers in 72nd Grey Cup, 1984, 76th Gre ...
*
John Bonk John Bonk (born August 27, 1950) is a Canadian former professional football offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The four-time All-Star played from 1973 to 1985 for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bonk won the CFL's Most Outstandi ...
*
Buddy Tinsley Robert Porter "Buddy" Tinsley (August 16, 1924 – September 14, 2011) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982, and was a member of th ...
*
Bill Frank William B. Frank, Jr. (April 13, 1938 – June 26, 2014) was a Canadian football offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys in ...
* Stanley Bryant * Charles Roberts * Leo Lewis *
Milt Stegall Milton Eugene Stegall (born January 25, 1970) is a former professional gridiron football player who played 17 years of professional football, three years in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cincinnati Bengals and 14 years in the Cana ...
*
Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial e ...
* James Murphy *
Rick House Rick House (born May 18, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football player who was a receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1979 to 1984 and 1989 to 1991. He also played for the Edmonton Eskimos. H ...
*
Trevor Kennerd Trevor Kennerd (born December 23, 1955) was a kicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1980-1991. He was a three-time CFL All-Star (1981, 1985 Football Reporters of Canada All-Star and 1983 Coaches All-Star) ...
* Wade Miller * Doug Brown *
Tony Norman Anthony Joseph Norman (born 24 February 1958) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town. He holds the record for consecutive appearances for Hull City, playing 226 cons ...
*
Herb Gray Herbert Eser Gray (May 25, 1931 – April 21, 2014) was a Canadian lawyer who became a prominent federal politician. He was a Liberal member of parliament for the Windsor area over the course of four decades, from 1962 to 2002, making Gray ...
* Bob Cameron *
Willie Jefferson Willie Hebert Jefferson III (born January 31, 1991) is an American professional Canadian football, football defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jefferson is a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning w ...
*
Tyrone Jones Tyrone Jones (August 3, 1961 – June 10, 2008) was a gridiron football all-star and Grey Cup champion linebacker in the Canadian Football League. Born in St. Mary's, Georgia, Ty's football career began at Camden County High School, Camden Cou ...
*
James West James or Jim West may refer to: People * James West (Australian journalist) (born 1982), Australian journalist and author * James West (antiquary) (1703–1772), English politician and antiquary; president of the Royal Society * James E. West (po ...
* Rod Hill *
Greg Battle Greg Battle (born April 14, 1964) is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He graduated from Arizona State University. He had a tryout with the Denver Broncos of the NFL but turned ...
*
Less Browne Less Browne (born December 7, 1959) is an American former professional football defensive back who played in the United States Football League (USFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, and ...
*
Jovon Johnson Jovon Johnson (born November 2, 1983) is an American college football and former Canadian football defensive back. He is the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach for Gannon University, positions he has held since 2024. He was the w ...
*
Ernie Pitts Ernie Pitts (March 8, 1935 – September 24, 1970) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) wide receiver and defensive back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the BC Lions in a 14-year career in the CFL from 1957 to 1970. He won four Grey Cups with W ...
* Paul Bennett *
Fritz Hanson Melvin "Fritz" Hanson (July 13, 1914 – February 14, 1996) was a Canadian football player for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders. Hanson was signed by the Blue Bombers for $125 a game and free room and board, which was a consi ...
*
Gerry James Edwin Fitzgerald James (October 22, 1934 – February 13, 2024) was a Canadian professional football and ice hockey player. He played as a running back for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) between 1952 and 1964 a ...
* Tom Casey


Winnipeg Blue Bombers Ring of Honour

On June 24, 2016, the Blue Bombers unveiled a Ring of Honour at Investors Group Field on the 200 level just above the suites. As sponsored by the Insurance Brokers Association of Manitoba, the club had announced on June 9 that nine players would be selected for the 2016 season for each regular season home game (through online voting along with guidance from the Bomber history and recognition committee), with
Chris Walby Chris Walby (born October 23, 1956) is a retired Canadian Football League player who played the offensive tackle position almost exclusively with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He won three Grey Cups with the Bombers in 72nd Grey Cup, 1984, 76th Gre ...
being the first to be honored. In each season since, Winnipeg has added to the Ring of Honour once a year, which has included several players and one broadcaster.


Season-by-season results


Notes


See also

*
Valour FC Valour FC is a Canadian professional soccer club in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which competes in the Canadian Premier League and plays their home matches at Princess Auto Stadium. The team is coached by Phillip Dos Santos and community owned throu ...
, the
Canadian Premier League The Canadian Premier League (CPL or CanPL; ) is a professional Association football, soccer league in Canada and the highest level of the Canadian soccer league system. The league comprises eight teams, from five of provinces and territories of ...
soccer team owned by Winnipeg Football Club *
List of fan-owned sports teams This list of fan-owned sports teams includes professional and semi-professional teams solely owned by fans/supporters, either via a collective organisation or where the assumption of majority ownership by a small group is prohibited by the club' ...
*
Canadian Football Hall of Fame The Canadian Football Hall of Fame (CFHOF) is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates achievements in Canadian football. It is maintained by the Canadian Football League (CFL). It includes displays about the CFL, ...
*
Canadian football Canadian football, or simply football, is a Sports in Canada, sport in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete on a field long and wide, attempting to advance a Ball (gridiron football), pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposi ...
*
Comparison of Canadian and American football American and Canadian football are gridiron codes of football that are very similar; both have their origins partly in rugby football, but some key differences exist between the two codes. History Rugby football was introduced to North Amer ...
*
List of Canadian Football League seasons This is a list of Canadian Football League (CFL) Season (sport), seasons, including seasons in Canadian football prior to the CFL's founding in 1958 in sports, 1958. Pre-CFL seasons CFL seasons Early CFL (1958–1986) After the merger of t ...
* Jimmy Dunn, timekeeper for the Bombers from 1930 to 1972


References


Bibliography

* Bob Irving (edited by). ''Blue & Gold: 75 Years of Blue Bomber Glory'', 2005. * 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

* * {{Authority control Canadian Football League teams Sports clubs and teams established in 1930 1930 establishments in Manitoba