There’s something endearing about Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers and the Canadian Football League that the all-time touchdown leader in the three-down game hails from Cincinnati, played his college football at the University of Miami (Ohio) and had no clue about the Manitoba capital upon his first trip here.

And now Milt Stegall is not only a legend in these parts, but one of the most beloved athletes in the Keystone Province’s history.

This town and the Blue Bombers have been a landing spot for American athletes for decades and Stegall is one of a long line of players who ventured north to find fame in the CFL.

He found fame, all right, and then some as the CFL’s reigning all-time touchdown leader with 147 scores.

“I remember when Paul Jones (then the Bombers director of player personnel) first called me after I got cut from Green Bay about coming to the CFL (in 1995),” began Stegall in a chat with bluebombers.com upon his induction into the team’s Ring of Honour in 2016. “I didn’t know what to think. He said Winnipeg has my rights. I didn’t even know what that meant.

“I had heard of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver but when he said Winnipeg I said, ‘Who?’ The internet wasn’t available back then so I’m looking in the encyclopedia and there’s Winnipeg above North Dakota. I was 25 at the time and with no responsibilities so I thought I’d give it a shot.

“My plan was to get back to the NFL after a couple of years. But things happen for a reason and I’m happy they happened the way they did.”

During his days as a Blue Bomber from 1995-2008 Stegall established himself as a consistent deep threat, a leader in the locker room and a popular presence in the community. He remains the CFL’s all-time TD leader and also holds the league record for touchdowns in a single season with 23. His name is all over the Blue Bombers record book, with many of his marks – the 147 touchdowns and 15,153 receiving yards – seemingly untouchable.

“I played football from the time I was four and from the time I was four until high school, I loved football,” he said. “College football? I didn’t enjoy it. And the NFL? That was a job. But once I started playing in the CFL I felt like I was a little kid again or back in high school.

“I enjoyed coming to practice. I enjoyed being in the locker room. I enjoyed being on the road with the guys. All of them. I loved everything about my 14 years in Winnipeg. The fans, the Labour Day Classic… all of it. And it went by like that because it was such a great time.

“Those 14 years seem like a day because I enjoyed every single minute of it. I wouldn’t change one thing about the 14 years I spent in the CFL and in Winnipeg.”

Stegall’s legacy has seemingly only grown following his retirement. He is a champion of the city as an analyst on the CFL on TSN and remains true to the Blue Bombers. The love affair between the city and the man was certainly on display last summer, albeit under tragic circumstances.

Stegall lost his oldest son Chase suddenly last June and when he returned for a TSN telecast he was saluted with a message of condolence on the jumbotron and a long, emotional and tearful standing ovation.

“That tops everything in my Winnipeg Blue Bombers career right there,” he told bluebombers.com that night. “When I broke the touchdown record, when I had that last second catch (a 100-yard TD in a game against Edmonton), anything, that tops everything and nothing comes close. I wasn’t expecting the emotion. It wasn’t just cheers that were coming out, it was ‘We’re with you, Milt.’ That’s what it felt like. ‘Your pain is our pain’ but we’re all going to get through it.

“I’m not surprised, but it was still unexpected. It was good. It was good. It was good.”

Stegall said returning to work has helped in his recovery and coming back to Winnipeg was like a warm embrace.

“It’s therapeutic because I’m around so many people who care and have love for me and it’s all genuine,” he said. “They’re not just saying it. All these fans are saying it because they mean it. They feel like I’m one of their family members and I feel the same way. Even though I don’t know all their names that’s the feeling I get from this community — that we’re all family members and they’re right here with me and they understand my pain and they want to help me heal.

“The hugs came out when I was at the airport. It was, ‘We’re sorry for you. We’re here for you.’ That’s special.”

A cool FYI about the list below — all 10 players have been inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame with seven of the 10 also in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Stegall, Charles Roberts, Leo Lewis, Gerry James, James Murphy, Ernie Pitts and Joe Poplawski.

Blue Bombers Top 10 all-time touchdown leaders:

(*Indicates CFL record holder)

1. Milt Stegall (1995-2008) — 147*

2. Charles Roberts (2001-08) — 79

3. Leo Lewis (1955-66) — 75

4. Gerry James (1952-63) — 63

5. James Murphy (1983-90) — 62

6. Ernie Pitts (1957-69) — 55

7. Willard Reaves (1983-87) — 53

8. Rick House (1979-84, 1989-91) — 49

9. Joe Poplawski (1978-86) — 48

10. Jeff Boyd (1983-87) — 47