Blue Bombers to discard future hall-of-famer Adam Bighill

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Published Jan 24, 2025 • Last updated Jan 25, 2025 • 4 minute read

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Linebacker Adam Bighill is set to become a free agent in February. Photo by Kevin King /Winnipeg SunArticle content

Adam Bighill’s last play as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber will be the linebacker blitz that sent him ass-over-teakettle and tore up his knee in the 2024 Labour Day Classic in Saskatchewan.

His most recent injury, though, feels closer to his heart.

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The Bombers have told Bighill they won’t be offering him another contract, breaking off a relationship that left both sides head-over-heels for the better part of the last seven years.

“It’s a bummer,” the 36-year-old told the Winnipeg Sun. “The fans are great, the community is great. It supports you here. Great locker-room and great support – a lot of great stuff. It’s a good team, a good organization in a lot of ways. Something like that you don’t want to leave unless you have to.”

He’ll have to, with the hope another team wants him.

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Four months after surgery to repair that left knee, Bighill says he’s as determined as ever to come back this year.

He had hoped it could be in Winnipeg, where he’s settled with his family and where a potential sixth straight Grey Cup appearance would carry special significance.

“I’m not mad,” he said. “I’m disappointed that I won’t have another opportunity to come back and play a home Grey Cup in Winnipeg, for Winnipeg. Disappointed. But I can’t be mad at the scenario. It’s part of the process.”

That process, though, lacks in one area: Communication.

Bighill says he received no call from the Bombers through December and into January. That’s when he suspected the jig might be up.

So the man who helped bring Winnipeg two Grey Cup titles after a 28-year drought, while claiming the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award twice, picked up the phone and called GM Kyle Walters, just to hear it first-hand.

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“I called Kyle to get an answer,” Bighill said. “And I got an answer, which is good. What would have really been frustrating is if I waited around and I didn’t get a call, and the whole time you’re just wondering what’s going on.”

We’ve heard that from other players discarded by the Bombers. It seems they’re treated well, until they’re no longer wanted.

The no-longer-wanted part, Bighill – a financial adviser when he’s not chasing ball carriers – actually understands.

“I realized when I got hurt it’s a real possibility that a club who’s already looking at ways to probably redo their roster, with heavy veterans, this is an easy one for them,” he said. “Whether I think or whether other people think it’s a right decision or not. It’s an easy one to point at and say, ‘It’s probably time.’

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“So I understand that from a business stance. I prepared myself for it.”

Bighill says he called head coach Mike O’Shea, too. The two have a unique bond, having played the same position and been leaders on their teams, both at a hall-of-fame level.

O’Shea has made clear his feelings about his defensive captain more than once, calling him one of the greatest linebackers the league has ever seen.

But feelings don’t negotiate contracts.

“Oshe tends to stay out of contract negotiations,” is how Bighill put it. “He lets the front office do their part. So it doesn’t really matter what he thinks or feels, to some degree, I would say. The roles and responsibilities are different.”

Bighill’s time in blue and gold wasn’t all rosy.

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Forced to renegotiate a three-year contract after the pandemic killed the 2020 season, he took a massive pay cut.

Something about that experience rings familiar today: He didn’t get that call until the day before he was due an off-season bonus.

“I took it on the chin,” he said. “That was a s—ty experience. I felt like I was definitely treated unfairly. The communication part – what I wanted to avoid this time was not getting left to the last second … because it’s happened before.”

What he did four years ago was put his head down and continue to work on a career that’s put him in the history books.

“We went and won a Grey Cup. I won defensive player of the year. And earned a proper contract. And I didn’t bitch about it. Kyle did respect that. The next contract looked a lot better.”

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Only one player in franchise history, Greg Battle, has brought down more ball-carriers than Bighill has over the last six seasons.

No. 4 reached No. 2 on that list last year, making his 430th career tackle while wearing the W.

That number will have to do.

“It’s never what you want,” Bighill said of his uncertain future. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play in this league for a long time with a relatively stable feeling. I’m just thankful for what I’ve had so far.”

Starting Feb. 2, teams can contact pending free agents.

After 12 CFL seasons and a defensive MOP Award to go with each of his three Grey Cup rings, Bighill will once again be waiting for his phone to ring.

“I would like to think that there’s going to be interest out there somewhere.”

paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca

X: @friesensunmedia

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