During Black History Month this February bluebombers.com will once again salute some of the players who have played significant roles in the Blue Bombers’ long history. Our final instalment of 2026…
Today: Richie Hall — player: 1983-91; coach: 1994-present — the last 10 years with the Blue Bombers
Take a poll across the Canadian Football League for a list of the most respected men in the loop — current and all-time — and Richie Hall’s name would undoubtedly mentioned over and over and over again.
Hall, entering his 11th season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as an assistant coach on Mike O’Shea’s staff, has earned that reputation carved out over a career in the CFL that now spans five decades, beginning with his days as a player with the Calgary Stampeders in 1983 through 1987, then with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1988-91 and then since 1994 as a coach — both as a head knock, defensive coordinator and an as assistant.
One of the most likeable and professional men in the game, Hall’s fingerprints are most recently all over Winnipeg’s current stingy defence and he played a critical role in the franchise’s last two Grey Cup championship wins in 2019 and 2021 and in subsequent years as part of one of the league’s most consistent units.
Now 65, Hall grew up in San Antonio, TX and played his college ball at Colorado State before venturing north to Calgary. Under-sized at 5-6, he nonetheless carved out a solid career that included being named a CFL All-Star in 1983, a West Division All-Star four times while earning a Grey Cup championship as member of the 1989 Roughriders.
Hall has been part of five Grey Cup teams, winning one as a player as mentioned above and four as a defensive coordinator (including 2007 and 2013 with Saskatchewan). He was also the head coach in Edmonton for two seasons (2009-10). During his nine-year playing career, Hall saw action in 153 regular season CFL games and in 1990 was voted by fans as the Roughriders’ Most Popular Player. He was named as the club’s nominee for Outstanding Defensive Player in 1988.
He was also honoured with the highly prestigious Tom Pate Memorial Award for ‘outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team, his community and the Canadian Football League Players’ Association.’
Black History Month Archives: