James Stanley (American football) facts for kids

James Stanley, born on November 12, 1980, is an American football coach. He works as a Linebackers Coach and Pass Game Analyst for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. This team plays in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Stanley has coached in the CFL for 13 seasons. He has been part of 8 Grey Cup games with 3 different teams. He has won 3 championships. Before coaching, Stanley played professional indoor football from 2004 to 2007. He played in leagues like the Arena Football League (AFL). He was even the first player picked in the 2005 AIFL draft.

Stanley has coached for many teams at both college and professional levels. He was the linebackers coach for the Toronto Argonauts when they won the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. He also helped the Winnipeg Blue Bombers win the Grey Cup in 2019 and 2021.

Early Life and College Football

James Stanley grew up in Jackson, Michigan. He went to Jackson High School. There, he played football, basketball, and ran track. He graduated from high school in 1997.

After high school, Stanley played defensive back for the University of Toledo football team. He played from 1998 to 2002. He was a key player for four years. During his time, the Toledo Rockets played in the Motor City Bowl twice. They also won a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title in 2001.

After graduating from Toledo, Stanley continued his education. He studied at Dayton Barber College in Dayton, Ohio. He also took more classes at the University of Dayton.

Playing Professional Football

Stanley played professional indoor football for four seasons. This was from 2004 to 2007. He played for different teams in several leagues. These included the Arena Football League (AFL) and the National Indoor Football League (NIFL). He was the very first player chosen in the A.I.F.L. draft in 2005.

Coaching Career Highlights

Stanley has coached in many important football games. He coached in three Grey Cup games in a row from 2012 to 2014. He also coached in the Grey Cup in 2019 and 2021.

Early CFL Coaching

Stanley became the defensive backs coach for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2013. Before that, he helped the Toronto Argonauts win the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. He was their linebackers coach then.

Stanley started his Canadian Football League (CFL) coaching career in 2011. He was a defensive assistant for the Calgary Stampeders. He mainly worked with the defensive backs.

Coaching in the NFL

In 2010, Stanley worked with the Hartford Colonials. This team was part of the United Football League. He helped with special teams and defense. Later that year, he was a defensive coaching intern for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He worked with their secondary players.

He also spent part of the 2009 season with the NFL's Detroit Lions. There, he was an intern for special teams and the secondary.

College Coaching Experience

Besides his pro experience, Stanley coached at the college level. He spent three years as the defensive backs coach for the University of Dayton. During his time there, four of his defensive backs were named All-Conference players. In 2006, he also worked as an intern defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Marshals. This team was in the NIFL.