Greg Battle could demolish a running back darting through the line of scrimmage with a violence that could loosen molars and rack up subsequent chiropractic bills.
And on the very next play he could drop back into coverage and blanket receivers like an all-star cornerback.
Yes, there have been many superb athletes in the long and storied history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and count Battle — a linebacker who suited up with the club over two tours in the 1980s and 1990s — among the most special.
No doubt, as we trot out the latest in our ’10 Lists in 10 Days’ series with a look at the top tacklers in Blue Bombers history, many who saw the Arizona State product in his trademark #34 blue and gold jersey will concur.
Battle first came north to Winnipeg in 1987 after a tryout with the Denver Broncos and during a dominant period in Blue Bombers history where the club unearthed and developed one talent after another as if they had the keys to a secret linebacker factory.
A soft-spoken sort — especially in comparison to his gregarious defensive teammates like Tyrone Jones, James West, Rod Hill and Less Browne — Battle was a silent killer on defence.
He was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive Player for four straight seasons — 1989-92 — at a time when he was also the most-dominant defender in the Canadian Football League, twice earning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award honours in 1990 and 1991 while being a runner-up on a third occasion in 1989.
Battle played a key role in two Grey Cup championships in 1988 and 1990 and his work in the ’90 victory over Edmonton was arguably one of the most sensational single-game defensive efforts in franchise history.
He had four tackles and two interceptions in Winnipeg’s 50-11 blowout win over Edmonton, with one of the interceptions returned for a touchdown.
That play captured Battle’s game perfectly, as his athleticism often made the spectacular look ordinary.
OTD in Blue Bombers History Nov 25, 1990. 78th Grey Cup was a first-time matchup between Edmonton and Winnipeg. A close game for two quarters but in the third, led by Greg Battle and Tom Burgess, the Bombers set a Grey Cup Record with 28 points as they pounded the Eskimos 50-11 pic.twitter.com/L8is13UQDD
— Joe Pascucci (@Pascucci015) November 25, 2025
“The best game I’ve been involved with,” said Battle in an interview yours truly did with him for a Free Press story in 2007 upon his induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. “I know I did a couple of things in the game, but as a team effort and the defence rallying behind one another… that was probably one of the most complete games I’ve been a part of.”
Battle left Winnipeg in 1994 for the expansion Las Vegas Posse to be closer to home and also had stints with the Ottawa Rough Riders, Memphis Mad Dogs and Saskatchewan Roughriders before finishing his career in 1998 back in Winnipeg. He retired ranked third on the CFL’s all-time tackle list and now holds down ninth spot on the list.
In addition to being inducted into the CFHOF, he was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2001.
And it was his days with the Blue Bombers that he remembered vividly years after he was done playing.
“I think about those years a lot,” Battle said in our chat in ’07. “I think about the guys I used to hang out with… James West, Paul Randolph and Tyrone (Jones). I tell you what, I miss those guys quite a bit. Those were special times, being with those guys.
“I remember Tyrone dressing up as ‘Homey the Clown’ (the incredibly nasty children’s entertainer from ’90s sketch-comedy show In Living Colour) on my son’s birthday when he was two years old. Without warning, Tyrone shows up as ‘Homey the Clown’. That’s one of those classic moments for my family.
“It’s the time we spent together… There was so much camaraderie with that team. It seemed like every weekend we’d get together for no good reason other than to be with each other and I think that’s what made us great.”
Blue Bombers Top 10 all-time tackle leaders:
1. Greg Battle, LB, (1987-93; 1997-98) — 587
2. Adam Bighill, LB, (2018-24) — 430
3. Darryl Sampson, DB, (1986-95) — 428
4. Doug Brown, DT, (2001-11) — 426
5. James West, LB, (1985-92) — 378
6. Paul Randolph, LB, (1989-95) — 372
7. Jovon Johnson, DB, (2008-12) — 362
8. Barrin Simpson, LB (2006-09) — 335
9. Ryland Wickman, LB (2000-05) — 324
10. Maurice Kelly, DB, (1998-99; 2003-04) — 284