Winnipeg-wide hug awaits former Blue Bomber Milt Stegall

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Published Jul 16, 2025 • 4 minute read

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Milt Stegall secures a catch during Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie camp at Princess Auto Stadium on May 8, 2024. Photo by Kevin King /Winnipeg SunArticle content

One of the things Milt Stegall is hoping to feel when he gets back to work on TSN’s CFL panel on Thursday is joy.

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Canadian football’s career touchdown leader, devastated by the death of his 20-year-old son, Chase, in early June, wants to get back to having fun again, doing the job he’s loved for the last 15 seasons.

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“We came to a point where we have to try and get back to our normal life, as much as we can,” Stegall told me on Tuesday as he looked ahead to his first TV appearance of the season two days later.

So in the spirit of having fun, here’s a Milt Stegall story you probably haven’t heard.

In 2002, I picked up an old car at a local auction. It was a 1966 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight, a big four-door hardtop, classic turquoise in colour, that was a little rusty but in decent driving condition.

I took the car to the old stadium on occasion to watch the Blue Bombers practise and to conduct interviews.

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One day I ran into Stegall in the parking lot and he expressed interest in it, asking where I got it and how much I paid ($1,300).

“I’ll give you $5,000 for it,” he said.

I told him it wasn’t for sale.

He upped the ante: “I’ll give you $10,000.”

I didn’t take Stegall up on his offer. But a few years later, after getting some bodywork done and having it repainted, I ran into him again – he was still playing – and showed him the finished product. Now at least it was worth closer to what he had offered.

Of course, it still wasn’t for sale. I tend to hang onto these remnants of my childhood.

Fast-forward to this past Tuesday, when I had Stegall lined up for a phone interview early in the afternoon.

Five minutes before I was supposed to call him at his home in Atlanta, I got a call from my mechanic. He’d recently done some work on an overheating problem with the Olds and was checking in to see how it was doing.

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I told him I couldn’t talk for long because I was supposed to do an interview with Milt Stegall. One thing you don’t want to do is make the former receiver wait.

Stegall always liked to say there were six guarantees in life, among them: Death, taxes, Milt Stegall being in good shape and Milt Stegall being on time.

My mechanic quickly switched gears (pun intended) and offered heartfelt condolences that he wanted me to pass on to one of the best receivers we’ve ever seen in the CFL.

He’d heard about the tragedy, and with kids of his own couldn’t imagine what Stegall and his family were going through. It struck me how sincere he was.

By the time I got off the phone with my him, I was two minutes late in calling Stegall.

He was quick to point it out, of course.

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I told him I had a good reason, reminding him of the car he wanted to buy some 20 years ago and telling him what the mechanic had said, unprompted.

“I can accept you being late over that,” Stegall said. “There’s been so many people reaching out to me … it’s definitely helpful in navigating through this.”

The conversation turned to the incredible pain his family was dealing with and his return to work this week, including a trip to his old stomping grounds for Friday’s game against Calgary.

The column I wrote from our talk drew all kinds of reaction on Wednesday, both on social media and in emails from readers.

Here’s an example: “Thank you for sharing this update of how the Stegall family is coping after the tragic loss of their son,” wrote Brent. “I am a CFL fan in Saskatchewan, who has always had so much respect for Milt, the player, broadcaster and CFL advocate. I’m glad to read that he is healing, even if just a small amount, everyday. I’m looking forward to seeing Milt back on the TV this week.”

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From Kirk on X: “Winnipeg will embrace him on Friday.”

From Al on the same site: “Hope Friday’s hug from Wpg can help during this tough journey.”

With all the division and nastiness out there these days, it’s reassuring to see an outpouring of empathy for someone going through an impossibly difficult time.

If there’s one thing we can all do to make this a better place, it’s offer up some kindness, whether it’s dealing with employees in a store, simply walking down the street or between oil changes, as the mechanic had done.

I mentioned his words to a family member that day.

“That guy speaks for all Bomber fans,” he said.

There you go, Milt.

Welcome back to Winnipeg.

paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca

X: @friesensunmedia

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