Attention in Winnipeg has shifted from the ice to the gridiron, as the Winnipeg Jets season has come to an end and the city now turns its focus toward a new chapter with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers preparing for the upcoming CFL season.

On Tuesday, the Bombers officially announced that three-time Grey Cup champion and three-time CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Adam Bighill has retired from professional football and signed a one-day contract to close out his career in Winnipeg.

After beginning his professional career with the BC Lions in 2011, where he won a Grey Cup in his rookie season, Bighill established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive players.

He joined the Blue Bombers in 2018 and immediately became the heart of their defense. During his time in Winnipeg, he helped lead the team to Grey Cup championships in 2019 and 2021, anchoring one of the league’s most feared defensive units.

Individually, Bighill’s resume is one of the most decorated in CFL history. He was named CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player three times and earned multiple All-CFL selections, consistently producing at an elite level over more than a decade. 

Across his career, Bighill totaled nearly 200 CFL games, over 950 defensive tackles, and countless momentum-changing plays that defined his reputation as one of the most impactful linebackers of his era.