#21 Nick Hallett, #23 Noah Hallett
Sometime this Saturday – maybe several times, actually – Nick and Noah Hallett will glance up from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers sidelines at BMO Field in Toronto to try and spot their parents, their sister and up to 25-30 other friends and family.
Calling it a ‘special moment’ would seem to significantly undersell the occasion, given it represents more than simply marking the first time the two brothers will be back home in southern Ontario as Blue Bombers teammates. This is a unique story not just because the Bombers drafted the Hallett Bros in back-to-back classes – Nick in 2019, Noah a year later – but because the two London, Ont. both play safety and are essentially competing with each other.
“It’s very cool. I wouldn’t change this experience for anything,” began Nick in a media Zoom call he shared with Noah on Wednesday. “It is definitely a little different, though, competing against my brother for the same spot. He’ll make a play that’s better than me and I don’t know whether to be happy or mad. But it’s definitely a fun time.
“… Other than wanting to be the better brother and do well on the field, all the coaches and staff tell us to separate because we are always just gravitating together, having fun, joking around. This is my best friend, so it’s awesome to play out there with him.”
The Halletts have an ironclad bond that has made them inseparable since the two arrived for training camp last month. In fact, seek out the brothers at any time over the early stages of the Bombers season and the same scenes continue to play out: Nick and Noah Hallett praying together in the end zone before a game; Noah and Nick Hallett high-fiving each other during a practice session; Nick and Noah Hallett just chilling together before and after a workout.
“In the game of football you rarely see things like that,” said Bombers defensive backs coach Jordan Younger. “The game just doesn’t work out in a way where you get two brothers close in age, on the same team going through the same experience at the same time.
“Having them in the meetings, they’re almost clones of each other as far as capabilities, the way they communicate, the level of talent. So, it’s a unique experience and as a coach when I get a moment to breathe and just sit back and look at it, it’s special. I try to be in the moment and try to take it in with them.
“I think they’ve been in a competitive situation since they were born, right? They’re highly competitive individuals. They compete at everything and it makes us better because of it. They have their own little personal thing going, so that just naturally raises the level of competition around everybody. We’re so blessed to have them.”
With Nick 3 ½ years older than Noah, the pair never played together in high school. Nick then played at the University of Toronto, with Noah opting for McMaster University.
“He could have come to the University of Toronto,” said Nick, “but McMaster stole him away.”
“Yeah,” added Noah, “I wanted to get some wins and get the Yates Cup, which I got.”
The Bombers liked what they got from Nick in his rookie season, as he dressed for all 18 games and the three playoff games and finished third on the club with 13 special teams tackles.
Interestingly, Noah was with Nick in the Bombers locker room after the Grey Cup win. A few months after that celebration, he heard his name called out by the Bombers at the CFL Draft.
“It was cool,” said Noah of that night in Calgary. “Being there with Nick and with the team, it’s kinda cool that they already made me feel that I was part of the team. After when we went out and celebrated, I went out with them and all the guys were welcoming and nice, so it was kind of fitting that I got picked up here.”
Fast-forward to Saturday. The Hallett crew shouldn’t be difficult to find, not only because they will be some 30-strong, but because of the ingenious idea the parents came up with to make sure one son doesn’t get more support than the other.
“There’s splitting it up,” said Nick with a grin. “I think a couple went with 21 on the front, 23 on the back. They’ll find a way.”
