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Jake Thomas didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to join the coaching staff with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after playing 13 seasons along the defensive line.

“It happened fairly organically. I had a really good exit meeting with (head coach Mike O’Shea) and at that point I was still planning on continuing playing, if that was possible. Then a few weeks went by after the Grey Cup and we continued our conversation. He let me know that there was a chance this opportunity would be available and it’s one of those jobs that if you don’t take it now, it’s not going to be there forever,” Thomas recently told the media via videoconference.

“At the end of the year when I was talking to (the media) this wasn’t a plan, but I’m very happy with how it worked out. Usually the best things in life aren’t overly planned.”

This also isn’t the first time O’Shea has hired a coach straight from the locker room as Mike Miller was hired as the team’s special teams coordinator following the 2024 season. The veteran head coach clearly has an extremely high opinion of Thomas, who was Winnipeg’s longest-tenured player at the time of his retirement.

“(Thomas is) extremely intelligent. He’s always been a guy who studies the game well, communicates well to his teammates, so you expect that to continue,” said O’Shea.

“I think Jake will always want to stay in football. I think this gives an opportunity to see what it’s like on this side of it. I believe the future for Jake is going to be pretty good — he’ll probably end up being a GM, so he can do a lot. He’s the type of guy that he could probably do whatever he wants.”

Miller’s unit struggled at times during his first year at the helm, though it significantly improved in 2025. Trey Vaval was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player as a breakout returner, while the Blue Bombers placed first in the league’s aggregate special teams ranking, which combines metrics of kicking, punting, returning, kick coverage, big plays, and penalties.

O’Shea indicated that Miller’s successful transition didn’t necessarily play a role in hiring Thomas, though he plans on providing him with the same level of support.

“We try to make sure that transition is fairly smooth for them because there are some surprises,” said O’Shea. “(Thomas) is so highly respected in the locker room and across the league, and also he’s really skilled in terms of dealing with humans, so if anything were to come up, he’ll handle it.”

“I think looking back a pile of years, Mike and Jake and other guys would be guys in my head that I’d be like, ‘Yeah, this could be a natural fit if they choose to do it.’”

Thomas thanked his wife for supporting his transition to coaching, saying he was shocked at how supportive she was with the decision. She had recently completed a 32-hour drive home to the Maritimes with their two children, dog, and two cats, so he would have understood if she was less than enthusiastic about him staying in football.

Thomas has also stepped away from real estate, which was his off-field career for the past few years. He hopes to remain in football for at least the next 10 years.

“I think real estate actually made me realize how much I actually love football. Same with COVID — I think pre-COVID, I took for granted how awesome my life was as a professional football player. To have that taken away from you, I think rekindled that love for the game and I think that’s probably why I played as long as I did,” he said.

“It’s always in the back of your mind that you want to stay in football (post-retirement), then for this opportunity to come up, I pounced at the chance.”

The Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Zach Collaros threw for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 regular-season games, going 6-7 as a starter.

Winnipeg ranked fifth in net offence, third in net defence, and eighth with a turnover differential of minus-eleven. The club’s leading rusher was Brady Oliveira with 1,163 yards, leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and leading tackler was Tony Jones with 104 tackles. Winnipeg ranked first in attendance with average crowds of 32,343, which was a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year.