WINNIPEG – Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea will be honoured with an induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the CFL announced Wednesday. It comes after 16 CFL seasons and 271 CFL games as a player. O’Shea won three Grey Cups before retiring following the 2008 season.
“Certainly a moment of pride for myself, family, everybody, it’s good.” O’Shea said. “A chance to reflect on all the teammates and coaches and family members and friends that have supported you along the way.”
He started his career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1993 and stayed there for three seasons before getting a tryout with the NFL’s Detroit Lions. He returned to the CFL later in 1996, joining the Toronto Argonauts, where he played until 1999. He returned to Hamilton for one season before wrapping up his CFL career with the Argos. His 271 game total is more than any other linebacker in CFL history.
“On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to congratulate Mike on an honour that was both expected and extremely well deserved,” said Blue Bombers President & CEO Wade Miller in a statement. “Mike has carried himself like a hall of famer from the moment he entered this league and continues to do so now as a head coach of the Blue Bombers.”
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Throughout his career, O’Shea compiled an impressive list of statistics, including his 1,151 defensive tackles, ranking him #2 all-time. Overall, he made 1,320 tackes, which equates to almost five defensive stops per game. He was the CFL’s rookie of the year in 1993 and was chosen as the Most Outstanding Canadian in 1999.
“At the root of it I’m a proud Canadian so I love our game, I love our country.” said O’Shea. “I enjoyed going to work every day. I really did. Loved the game, loved my teammates. I enjoyed going to work every day. It didn’t seem like a job. It was a lot of fun to be there day in and day out and put the time in. It was easy to work hard at this.”
All players voted into the hall of fame have a bust sculpted in their likeness.
“Somebody else will stand in for me. I don’t think you’ll find someone ugly enough.” joked O’Shea.
Also voted into the class of 2017 in the players category were former Bombers receiver Geroy Simon, running back Kelvin Anderson, and quarterback Anthony Calvillo. Longtime Saskatchewan Huskies head coach Brian Towriss and Stan Schwartz will be inducted in the builders category.
O’Shea became the club’s 30th head coach in club history in December of 2013, and will continue in that role in 2017.
WATCH: Mike O’Shea Raw Interview
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