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News November 21, 2024

‘Papi’ Returns | Blue Bombers re-sign Sergio Castillo

Sergio Castillo has signed a one-year contract to remain with the Blue Bombers -- photos by Cameron Bartlett

@EdTaitWFC

Two things Sergio Castillo led the Canadian Football League in during the 2024 season: long distance field goals, for which he set a record, and bringing joy to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers locker room.

The club announced today it has signed the veteran kicker to a one-year extension — he was scheduled to become a free agent in February — and that means regular 50-plus yard attempts will once again be the norm in 2025 and the man teammates call ‘Papi’ will continue to entertain the clubhouse, the practice field, the flights and all the bus rides.

The Blue Bombers had been in discussions with Castillo’s agent for the past five or six weeks and he signed the extension before returning home to Texas this week.

“It brings peace because now I can go into the offseason without waiting for a call. I’m glad we got it done,” Castillo told bluebombers.com before hopping on his plane. “For me, Winnipeg is my second home and it’s where I want to retire.

“We’re all hurting right now because we’ve got some unfinished business. Hopefully we can get it done next year. You know, with how we started to how we came together to clinch nine out of 10 games at the end of the season is remarkable in itself. Obviously, it’s hard to look at it that way because we’re living in the moment right now.

“We didn’t play our best ball in the Grey Cup. I know I could have done better. You look back and we just committed a lot of mistakes that we really weren’t making over that 10-week span. That’s going to make for a long offseason, but I’ll definitely be using it as motivation to finish the job next year.”

Castillo was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for a second consecutive season in 2024 after connecting on 79.7 percent of his field goals (51-of-64), and hitting on 38-of-39 converts. Interestingly, five of his 13 misses came from 50 yards plus as he made 11 of 16 from that distance, establishing a new CFL record in the process. Included in that were two makes from 60 yards – breaking the previous team record of 58, first set by Bernie Ruoff in 1975 and tied by Justin Medlock in 2016.

“I had a good year, but I think more about the misses,” he said. “There were a couple I put a couple off the posts, and I recall my swing being late. That’s likely because I’m tired physically so I’ve got to do a better job in the weight room and work to maintain my weight. As the season goes on, I notice I lose about two-three yards off my kicks.

“We did attempt a lot of long ones, and I did miss some. I want to make that more the norm, where I’m making more of those and aim for 90 percent of those. Why not, right? I just appreciate Osh (head coach Mike O’Shea) for trotting me out there for so many long kicks.”

Castillo is in his third stint with the Blue Bombers, where he began his CFL career in 2015 and later returned in 2021 via trade with the B.C. Lions. He signed with Edmonton in 2022 and rejoined the club in 2023 after a late release by the Elks. What he has found since his return is his voice and his place in the locker room and something even more valuable.

“Ever since I came back last year I’m just at peace when I go kick and I know that ball is going to go in,” he said. “Before, the ball would go in, but I still felt some type of doubt. That’s maturing over the last couple of years in the mental aspect where I’ve found things to do outside of football that can help me be myself when I come into the locker room. It’s things like my photography or playing golf — that helps me relax as a human being so that when I come into the locker room as a football player I am relaxed. What I’d like to do now is use my platform to inspire people in Winnipeg. I’ve been accepted here as a player, as an individual and my family, too.

“Plus, it’s the environment Osh has created and how he allows me to be me,” he added. “I’m goofy 90 percent of the time until the 10 percent of the day I have to focus on and I’m able to lock in. I’ve always been a class clown since my school days. I like making people laugh. I like bringing joy with my jokes or with me just being myself. If the guys see me and think, ‘Serge is being himself and he does his job well’ maybe they can be themselves, too, and they can relax and play well. I feel like I have that veteran status now. I have guys asking me questions or looking up to me so I know some of the little things I do can have a big effect on guys, from the mental aspect especially. So, if I can be myself around the guys and keep making fun of Big Red, Stanley (Bryant), people get a crack out of that.

“I enjoy being a kid. I’m 34 years old but I’m still a kid in that locker room. Once I’m in that locker room and around the team I just get this energy.”