Kyrie Wilson facts for kids
| No. 19 Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |
Wilson at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2019 Grey Cup parade.
|
|
| Born: | November 5, 1992 Fresno, California |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | 6-game injured |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| College | Fresno State |
| High school | Ridgeview High School |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2016* | Oakland Raiders |
| 2017–present | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career stats | |
|
|
Kyrie Jamal Wilson (born November 5, 1992) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Before joining the CFL, Kyrie played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He was also part of the Oakland Raiders team in the National Football League (NFL) for a short time.
Contents
Playing Professional Football
Starting with the Oakland Raiders
After finishing college, Kyrie Wilson hoped to join an NFL team. He was not chosen by any team in the 2016 NFL draft, which is called being "undrafted." However, the Oakland Raiders signed him to their team.
Even though he joined the Raiders, he was released before the 2016 season officially began. This meant he didn't play any regular games for them.
Joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Kyrie Wilson then moved to Canada and signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 19, 2017. He played his first professional game in the Banjo Bowl on September 9, 2017.
In 2018, he played in five games. He then signed a new contract in early 2019 to stay with the team for two more years.
Key Player in 2019
During the 2019 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season, Kyrie became a very important part of the Blue Bombers' defense. He started in all 18 regular season games. He made 63 tackles, got three sacks, and caught one interception.
Kyrie helped the Bombers reach the 107th Grey Cup in 2019. In that championship game, he made five tackles. He also broke up a pass that stopped the other team from scoring extra points. The Bombers won their first Grey Cup in 29 years! This was Kyrie's first CFL championship.
Winning Another Grey Cup
In January 2021, Kyrie signed another two-year contract with the Blue Bombers. At the start of the 2021 season, he got a hip injury. This meant he couldn't play again until late September.
Despite his injury, he played seven games and made 16 tackles. He was a key player as the team worked to win another Grey Cup. They played in the 2021 CFL Final against the Tiger-Cats. The Bombers were losing 22-10, but their defense helped them come back.
The game went into overtime. The Bombers took the lead 33-25. In a thrilling moment, a pass was tipped by two of Kyrie's teammates. Kyrie caught the ball, which sealed the win for the Bombers! This was his second Grey Cup title in a row.
Kyrie's family, including his father, step-mother, sister, and brother, were there to watch him win. They even came down to the field to celebrate with him. Kyrie later said that the team stayed focused even through tough times like the pandemic. He felt it showed that "no matter what you go through, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel."
Injury in 2022
Kyrie suffered an Achilles injury early in the 2022 season. This type of injury often means a player needs a lot of time to recover.
