In the world of sports, it is inevitable, and Stanley Bryant will experience it eventually. Ultimately, as the man himself stated so eloquently today:
“Father Time has never lost.”
Absolutely unbeaten, but he’ll still have to wait for a spell on Bryant, who officially signed a one-year contract extension with the Blue Bombers to stay in his position through the 2024–2025 season. Bryant is a future hall of famer. This implies that the club’s left flank will continue to be manned by the most decorated offensive lineman in Canadian Football League history, a man who will be 38 during training camp this May.
Bryant explained his decision to make a comeback to the media on a Wednesday zoom call, saying it was essentially just knowing that he could still play the game. “Someone said, ‘Football is the only sport that you can’t continue to play once you’re done,’ as I was thinking about it and contemplating it.” You can walk outside to the YMCA and play basketball. I’m pretty sure you can go out and get to a beer league and move around and stuff like that if you play hockey, which I don’t do.
But once you’re done, you can’t just go play football outside. After hearing that, it all made sense to me, and I continued to think about it. Why not carry on playing as you still feel well and capable of playing?
The only four-time recipient of the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award, Bryant continues to play at a high level, so the Blue Bombers are thrilled to have him back. That’s especially important in a business where clubs, especially with a player like Bryant who is both durable and dominant, can have tackles turning over their depth charts in an attempt to find the proper fit.
Throughout his CFL career, Bryant has suit up for 203 games—170 of which he has played with the Blue Bombers—and has started each and every one of them. He finished second a fifth time and was chosen as the CFL’s best pile pusher four times (in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2022). A seven-time CFL All-Star, he proved reliable once more in 2023, being chosen as the left tackle on the CFL Players’ Association All-Star squad by his peers and earning a position on the West Division All-Star team.
Even after overcoming the anguish of losing the Grey Cup in November of last year—his second consecutive championship determined by less than a touchdown—Bryant claimed that his passion to play still burns brightly.
Bryant remarked, “I had to sit back and think about it.” “That defeat was difficult. I was devastated by that defeat. I had a lot of feelings and other thoughts running through my head when I considered the future and other things. But I realised it’s simply a game after I regained consciousness.
Although we didn’t win, we could try to replicate the same strategy the following year. Everyone felt that way, I’m very sure, not understanding exactly what happened or how it happened, and thinking that it was one that got away. It was really hard on me. I was unwilling to talk to anyone. Talking about the game was the last thing I wanted to do. It was really difficult.
The starting offensive line for the Blue Bombers consisted of five players at the end of the previous season; only Bryant and Pat Neufeld resigned in advance of the CFL free agency that begins next month. Regulars Tui Eli and Liam Dobson are signed for this season, but all-star right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, centre Chris Kolankowski, and left guard Geoff Grey are still unsigned.
In addition, the Blue Bombers’ management must manage a seasoned club while adhering to the salary cap, an unpleasant assignment. As a player nearing the conclusion of his career, Bryant hinted that he took a slight risk in his contract negotiations in the hopes of having at least one more shot at glory with as many of his colleagues returning as possible.
Nothing stays the same,” he remarked. “I am aware that guys are getting better every year and that they also want their money.” I am aware that in order to have the team we need to be able to go to a Grey Cup and win, I may eventually have to make some sacrifices on my part. That is fine with me. It comes a time in your career—or anyone’s career—when you have to make adjustments, and I have no problem with that.
The objective is always to win a Grey Cup, and now that my career is coming to a conclusion and I’m older, it becomes much more important. My goal is to field the greatest team possible. I understand that players are considering free agency and other options, but I would really love to have all of our players return, if not more.
Returning to the Father Time allusion… Bryant is most frequently compared to Chris Walby, particularly in these parts. Walby played until he was 40 and finished as a division all-star in his last season. During Grey Cup week, a CFL executive stated, “A Stanley Bryant at 80 percent is still better than just about every tackle in his league.” Bryant is still a mainstay at tackle.
If Bryant had reached free agency, that emotion undoubtedly would have had his phone ringing, but he maintained that the prospect of going to market was rarely entertained.
“Since leaving Calgary in 2015, I haven’t been in the free-agent market,” he declared. Though I’m quite sure I considered it, I was certain that Winnipeg was my desired location. I don’t see myself playing somewhere else. For me, at this point in my career, it didn’t make sense. I have no desire to relocate and attempt to start over somewhere fresh now that I’m much older.
“I want to keep leaving my legacy here in Winnipeg, where I’ve accomplished a lot.”
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