He ran over and through would-be defenders. Around and right past them, too. He dragged, pushed, and pulled tacklers, hauled in passes with the soft hands of surgeon and pass-blocked with absolute ferocity.
Along the way, Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira helped make history by leading the Canadian Football League in rushing and yards from scrimmage while being named the loop’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player.
Oliveira’s remarkable 2023 season – what with all the individual accomplishments which helped lead the club to a 14-4 season and another berth in the Grey Cup – comes in as the #3 story in our Blue Bombers Year in Review series.
“It’s a dream. I feel like this entire season has been a dream for me,” said Oliveira on the night he was named the CFL’s top Canadian during a soiree at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls. “It’s almost like I’ve got to keep blinking and see if this is real life and if I’ve woken up yet from this dream.
“It’s been incredible, and I’m truly blessed. I appreciate my teammates and my coaches. Being able to work with those guys every single day makes it a lot more enjoyable and a lot more fun to be with a group of men like that.”
“I talk all the time about my offensive line and the receivers. I mean it, man, this is our award. If you watch the tape there are some times I’m running and it’s four or five yards before I even get touched and that’s credit to my offensive line, the receivers, and the coaches who prepare us every single week to be dominant and we’ve shown that every single week.”
Oliveira’s 2023 totals included 1,534 rushing yards – the second highest by a Canadian in league history after Jon Cornish rumbled for 1,813 yards for the Calgary Stampeders in 2013 – as well as yards from scrimmage (2,016) and touchdowns (13), both league highs. He had a league-best seven 100-yard rushing games and set career highs in rushing, receptions (38) and receiving yards (482). In essence, he was a tone setter for an attack that led the league in scoring while dominating the line of scrimmage.
Also named a finalist for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award – he was the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly – Oliveira became the first Blue Bomber to be named top Canadian since Andrew Harris in 2017.
The other Blue Bombers to win this award include Gerry James (1954, 1957), Ken Nielsen (1968), Joe Poplawski (1981, 1986), Paul Bennett (1983), Scott Flagel (1987), Gerald Wilcox (1994) and Doug Brown (2001).
The Harris-Oliveira connection is a layer of his story that needs to be included here, too. Drafted in the second round in 2019, Oliveira arrived to a Blue Bombers locker room in which Harris was a force and the veteran helped mentor his protégé as one Winnipegger ultimately replaced another in the backfield.
It wasn’t a quick or smooth transition, however, and Oliveira was very candid about his struggles in assuming that role during a conversation with bluebombers.com during Grey Cup week.
Oliveira spoke of the role of so many who helped him during his acceptance speech, again saluting his offensive line and receivers, running backs coach Jason Hogan – who he referred to as a father figure and big brother – and the Blue Bombers organization.
And he was especially emotional when thanking his girlfriend, his mom Shani and sister Kallee, all of whom were in attendance.
“This means a lot to me,” he said. “I’m a proud Canadian. I’m living out a childhood dream playing for my hometown with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and it’s truly a childhood dream. I’ve been a CFL fan ever since I was a young kid watching legends like Milt Stegall, Charles Roberts and Canadians like Jon Cornish and Andrew Harris. Andrew Harris being a vital part of my young career when I got to the Bombers. I want to say thank you Andrew for everything you’ve done for me.
“So, as a Canadian kid, this means the world to me.”
