Winnipeg Blue Bombers facts for kids
 |
|
| Founded | 1930 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Home field | Osborne Stadium (1935–1952) Canad Inns Stadium (1953–2012) Princess Auto Stadium (2013–present) |
| Head coach | Mike O'Shea |
| General manager | Kyle Walters |
| Team president | Wade Miller |
| Owner(s) | Winnipeg Football Club (a non-profit corporation) |
| League | Canadian Football League |
| Division | West |
| Colours | Royal blue, metallic gold, white |
| Nickname(s) | Bombers, Blue and Gold, Big Blue, True Blue |
| Mascot(s) | Buzz and Boomer |
| Grey Cup wins | 12 (1935, 1939, 1941, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1988, 1990, 2019, 2021,) |
| Current uniform | |
 |
|
2025 Winnipeg Blue Bombers seasonThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team. They are based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Blue Bombers play in the Canadian Football League (CFL). They are part of the league's West division. Their home games are played at Princess Auto Stadium.
The team started in 1930. Back then, they were called the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club. Later, their name changed to the Winnipeg Football Club. This is still the official name of the organization. The Blue Bombers are one of two CFL teams owned by the community. This means they don't have shareholders.
Since they began, the Blue Bombers have won the Grey Cup championship 12 times. Their most recent win was in 2021 CFL season. They beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–25 in the 108th Grey Cup. The team has played in the Grey Cup more than any other team (29 times). Winnipeg was also the first team from Western Canada to win a championship.
Contents
Team Facts: What to Know About the Bombers
- Founded: 1930
- Old Name: Winnipegs (1930–1935)
- Helmet Design: Gold background with a white "W" and blue edges.
- Team Colors: Blue, gold, and white.
- Old Colors: Green and white (1930 to 1932).
- Nicknames: Bombers, Blue and Gold, Big Blue.
- Mascots: Buzz and Boomer.
- Team Song: "Bombers Victory March."
- Home Stadiums: Osborne Stadium (1935–1952), Canad Inns Stadium (1953–2012), Princess Auto Stadium (2013–present).
- Radio Station: 680 CJOB.
- Main Rivals: Saskatchewan Roughriders (they play in the Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl). Also, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (they've played many Grey Cup games against them).
- First Place in Western Division: 18 times (most recently 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
- First Place in Eastern Division: 7 times (most recently 2011).
- Western Division Championships: 22 times (most recently 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
- Eastern Division Championships: 7 times (most recently 2011).
- Grey Cup Championships: 12 times (1935, 1939, 1941, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1984, 1988, 1990, 2019, 2021).
- 2023 Regular Season Record: 14 wins, 4 losses.
Community Ownership: Who Owns the Team?
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are run by the Winnipeg Football Club (WFC). The WFC is a non-profit group. It was started in Manitoba on March 5, 1951. Its main goal is to help football grow in Manitoba.
The WFC also manages Triple B Stadium Inc. This group helps build and run the stadium at the University of Manitoba. This stadium is Princess Auto Stadium. The stadium is used by the Blue Bombers, the University of Manitoba Bisons (another football team), and for other sports and public events.
The WFC also runs Valour FC Inc. This group operates a professional soccer team in Winnipeg. This team plays in the Canadian Premier League (CPL).
History: The Blue Bombers' Journey
How it All Started
The first football team in Winnipeg was formed in 1879. It was called the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club. On June 10, 1930, the Winnipeg Tammany Tigers joined with other city teams. They created a new Winnipeg Rugby Football Club. People often called them the Winnipegs. They wore green and white uniforms.
The Winnipegs played their first game on June 13, 1930. They lost 7–3 to the St.John's Rugby Football Club. In 1932, the Winnipegs and St. John's teams combined. They changed their colors to blue and gold. In 1933, they also added the Garrison Rugby Club team. The Winnipegs played in the Manitoba Rugby Football Union from 1930 to 1935.
First Grey Cup Victory: Making History
Before 1935, Western teams had played in the Grey Cup 10 times. But they had never won. The teams from the East were much stronger. On December 7, 1935, the Winnipegs got their first chance. They played in the 23rd Grey Cup in Hamilton. Their opponents were the home team, the Tigers. It was a rainy day at Hamilton Amateur Athletic Association Grounds. About 6,405 fans watched the game.
Winnipeg quickly took a 5–0 lead. A Hamilton player, Jack Craig, let the opening kickoff bounce. A Winnipeg player grabbed the ball at the Hamilton 15-yard line. Winnipeg scored fast with a pass from Bob Fritz to Bud Marquardt. Winnipeg scored another touchdown. Greg Kabat caught the ball in the endzone. At halftime, Winnipeg was up 12–4. Hamilton scored a touchdown in the second half. This cut Winnipeg's lead to three points.
Then, Fritz Hanson caught a punt. He ran 78 yards for a touchdown. This made the score 18–10. Hamilton scored two more points. But they could not score a touchdown. The final score was Winnipeg 18, Hamilton 12.
With this win, Winnipeg became the first team from Western Canada to win the Grey Cup.
Early Days of Glory: Becoming the Blue Bombers
After the 1935 Grey Cup win, a sportswriter named Vince Leah called the team the "Blue Bombers of Western football." The team had no official nickname before this. But they quickly started using "Winnipeg Blue Bombers." Another writer, Jim Coleman, said the name came from boxer Joe Louis. He was famous as the "Brown Bomber."
In 1935, the Blue Bombers, Calgary Bronks, and Regina Roughriders formed a new league. It was called the Western Interprovincial Football Union. Between 1936 and 1949, the Bombers played for the Grey Cup many times. They won twice: in 1939 and 1941.
Jack Jacobs, also known as Indian Jack, was a talented quarterback. He joined the Bombers in 1950. He led the team to two Grey Cup games. His exciting play made the team very popular. More people bought tickets. The money from ticket sales helped the team. They moved from the small Osborne Stadium. They moved to the new Winnipeg Stadium. Fans even called the new stadium "The House that Jack Built." Jacobs retired in 1954.
In 1951, Jack Jacobs made history. He was the first pro football quarterback to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season. He threw for 3,248 yards. That year, he also threw for 33 touchdowns. The next year, he threw for 34 touchdowns.
The Bud Grant Era: A Winning Streak
Bud Grant joined the team in 1953. He played as a receiver for four years. In 1957, he became the head coach. Grant coached the team for 10 years. Then he became a coach for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.
In 1956, Blue Bombers fans named a beer after their team. It was called Labatt Blue. In 1958, the Blue Bombers joined the new Canadian Football League. They have played there ever since.
During Grant's time as coach, many great players joined the Bombers. These included Ken Ploen, Leo Lewis, and Ernie Pitts. The Bombers played in six Grey Cup games. They won four of them (1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962). In 1961, the Bombers won 21–14 in the first Grey Cup game to go into overtime. The Bombers and Tiger-Cats met again in the 1962 Grey Cup. This game was famous as the "Fog Bowl." It was stopped because of heavy fog. The Bombers won 28–27 the next morning.
After the 1960s, the Bombers had some tough years. They struggled for a few seasons. In the early 1970s, the team got better. They had players like quarterback Don Jonas and running-back Mack Herron. The team finished first in the Western Conference in 1972. This was their first time since 1962. However, they lost in the Western final.
In 1981, wide receiver Eugene Goodlow made history. He caught 100 passes in a season. This was a first for a CFL player. That season, the Bombers had three receivers with over 1,000 yards.
The Cal Murphy Era: More Championships
In 1983, Cal Murphy became the new head coach. He traded quarterback Dieter Brock for Tom Clements. Clements led the Bombers to a big win in the 1984 Grey Cup. They beat the Tiger-Cats. This was Winnipeg's first Grey Cup win in 22 years. Murphy was named coach of the year in 1983 and 1984.
In 1987, Murphy became the general manager. Mike Riley took over as head coach. The Montreal Alouettes team stopped playing. So, the league moved the Blue Bombers to the East Division. This helped balance the league.
Under Riley, the Blue Bombers won more Grey Cups. They beat B.C. in 1988 and Edmonton in 1990. Riley also won coach of the year awards. Cal Murphy returned as head coach in 1993. He led the team to five Grey Cup appearances in total. He left the team after the 1996 season. He had been with the team for 14 years.
Winnipeg played in the East Division for eight seasons. Then they moved to the North Division in 1995. This was when the CFL expanded to the United States. When the American experiment ended, the Blue Bombers returned to the West Division. Then they moved back to the East in 1997.
The Milt Stegall Era: A Star Player
In 1996, Cal Murphy left the Blue Bombers. The team had not been winning much. Jeff Reinebold became the new coach. But the team still struggled. They won only four games in 1997 and three in 1998.
One bright spot was Milt Stegall. He became an all-star in 1997. He scored many long touchdowns. Other notable players included Tom Europe and Eric Blount.
Milt Stegall joined the Bombers in 1995. He had played for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 1997, Stegall set a league record. He averaged 26.5 yards per catch. He had 1616 yards and 14 touchdowns. After a short time trying to play in the NFL, Stegall returned. He remained the team's main receiver.
In 1999, the Bombers got Khari Jones. Together, Stegall and Jones made the Bombers strong again. Jones was the CFL's most outstanding player in 2001. Stegall won the honor in 2002. Charles Roberts joined them in 2001. That year, the Bombers went to the Grey Cup. They lost to the Calgary Stampeders. The team was very strong from 2001 to 2003.
In 2004, Jones was traded. Kevin Glenn became the starting quarterback. Glenn led the team to two average seasons. In 2006, Winnipeg returned to the East Division.
With Stegall and Roberts, Glenn led the Bombers back to success. On July 20, 2006, they played the Edmonton Eskimos. The Bombers were losing 22–19. With 4 seconds left, Milt Stegall caught a 100-yard touchdown pass. They won the game 25–22. Many call this "The Play." It is one of the greatest plays in CFL history. The Bombers made the playoffs that year.
The 2007 CFL season was a big year for Milt Stegall. He broke the career CFL touchdown record. He almost broke the receiving yards record too. Many thought 2007 would be his last season.
The 2007 Grey Cup was between the Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It was their first Grey Cup meeting. Winnipeg lost 23–19. Their starting quarterback, Kevin Glenn, broke his arm. A rookie, Ryan Dinwiddie, had to play. He threw one touchdown but also three interceptions.
Milt Stegall returned for the 2008 season. He wanted to win a Grey Cup. Other players also took less money to stay. They hoped for a championship run. The Bombers traded star running back Charles Roberts in 2008. Milt Stegall retired on February 18, 2009. This ended his era with the team.
A New Chapter: Finding Stability
After some coaching changes, Paul LaPolice became head coach in 2010. He focused on teamwork. In the 2010 season, the team finished 4–14. They missed the playoffs. Many games were lost by only a few points.
The 2011 season was much better. The Blue Bombers went from last place to first in the East Division. They had a 10–8 record. Their defense, called "Swaggerville," was very strong. They reached the 99th Grey Cup. But they lost to the BC Lions 34–23.
In 2013, there were more changes. CEO Garth Buchko stepped down. General Manager Joe Mack was fired. Wade Miller became the new CEO and president. Kyle Walters became the general manager.
The CFL brought back a team in Ottawa in 2014. The league wanted to keep Winnipeg in the East. But the Blue Bombers wanted to return to the West Division. They did, but they finished last in their first season back.
O'Shea and Ending the Drought: Grey Cup Victories!
Mike O'Shea became the head coach on December 4, 2013. He helped the team get back to the playoffs. They started winning more games. In the 2019 season, injuries hit the team. But the Bombers traded for Zach Collaros. He joined with Chris Streveler as quarterbacks. Their strong play, along with a great defense, led the team to victory. They won their 11th championship at the 107th Grey Cup. This ended a 28-year wait for a Grey Cup win! Hometown player Andrew Harris made history. He was the first player to win both Grey Cup MVP and Most Valuable Canadian.
The CFL cancelled its 2020 season. But in 2021, the league returned. The Bombers finished first in the West with an 11–3 record. This was their first first-place finish since 1972. They beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final. Then they played the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Grey Cup again. The Bombers won the 2021 Grey Cup in overtime, 33–25. They became the first back-to-back Grey Cup champions since 2009.
In 2022, the team finished first in the West again. They had a 15–3 record. They reached the Grey Cup Final for the third year in a row. But they lost to the Toronto Argonauts 24–23. In 2023, they reached the Grey Cup again. They won the West Division with a 14–4 record. But they were upset by the Montreal Alouettes, losing 28–24.
Stadium: Where the Bombers Play
In their early years, the Blue Bombers played at Osborne Stadium. It was a small stadium. Quarterback Jack Jacobs made the games very popular. More fans meant they needed a bigger stadium. Winnipeg Stadium was built in 1953. The Blue Bombers started playing there. The stadium changed over the years. It was renamed Canad Inns Stadium in 2001.
Over time, there were plans to build a new stadium. In 2008, a plan was made to build one at the University of Manitoba. It would use both private and public money. On April 2, 2009, a deal was made to build a new stadium. It would have 33,422 seats. It could expand to 45,000 seats. This stadium would be the home for the Blue Bombers and the U of M Bisons. The project would also improve other sports facilities.
The new stadium was supposed to be ready for the 2012 CFL season. But there were delays. On May 2, 2012, the Bombers said the stadium would not be ready until September. Then, in June 2012, they announced it would not open until the 2013 season.
The Blue Bombers played their first home game at Princess Auto Stadium on June 27, 2013. They lost 38–33 to the Montreal Alouettes.
Players of Note: Famous Bombers
Canadian Football Hall of Famers
Many Blue Bombers players and builders have been inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. These are people who have made a big impact on Canadian football. Some famous names include:
- Paul Bennett
- Bob Cameron
- Tom Clements
- Bud Grant (as a builder/coach)
- Fritz Hanson
- Jack Jacobs
- Gerry James
- Leo Lewis
- Cal Murphy (as a builder/GM)
- Ken Ploen
- Joe Poplawski
- Charles Roberts
- Milt Stegall
- Chris Walby
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Ring of Honour
The Blue Bombers have a Ring of Honour at Princess Auto Stadium. It celebrates important players and people from the team's history. Fans help choose who gets added. Each year, new members are added. Some of the people honored include:
- Chris Walby
- Ken Ploen
- Gerry James
- Milt Stegall
- Dieter Brock
- Leo Lewis
- Bud Grant
- Herb Gray
- Doug Brown
- Jack Jacobs
- Fritz Hanson
- Bob Cameron
- Bob Irving (a broadcaster)
- Joe Poplawski
- James Murphy
- Charles Roberts
Images for kids
-
Winnipeg Blue Bombers uniform
-
Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo
See also
- Valour FC, the soccer team owned by the Winnipeg Football Club
- List of fan-owned sports teams
- Canadian Football Hall of Fame
- Canadian football
- Comparison of Canadian and American football
