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February 1, 2025

Black History Month feature: Leo Lewis

Leo Lewis Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1965 Grey Cup. Copyright photograph Scott Grant/

During Black History Month this February, we once again salute some of the players who have played significant roles in the Blue Bombers’ long history.

Today: Leo Lewis – running back, kick returner from 1955-66

Leo Lewis will always be remembered as a franchise icon in these parts and his accomplishments are still jaw-dropping almost 60 years since he last evaded would-be tacklers in a Blue Bombers uniform.

They called him ‘The Lincoln Locomotive’ from his days at Lincoln University in Missouri and the nickname seemed so perfect to those who had the privilege of watching him play live or even to this day while studying his many highlights.

Lewis was a sixth-round draft choice of the Baltimore Colts in 1955, yet he opted to sign with Winnipeg instead because the Blue Bombers were offering around $3,000-4,000 more.

Over his days in Winnipeg he would appear in six Grey Cups and be a part of four championship teams before retiring in 1966 after a knee operation.

Lewis, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 80, was such a dominant running back and returner during his days the legendary Bud Grant – a man who coached the Minnesota Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances – referred to him as the greatest player he ever coached. Just to put that into perspective: after leaving the Bombers following a dominant run that produced so many legends, Grant coached in Minnesota from 1967-83 and again in 1985, and the list of Vikings he led that are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame includes, among others, Carl Eller, Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton.

FYI, Lewis remains the Bombers all-time combined yardage leader almost 60 years after his last snap.

Frank Rigney and Leo Lewis Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1965 Grey Cup. Copyright photograph Ted Grant

Following his retirement from football Lewis worked with the United States Department of Agriculture, then with Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo. He then spent 30 years at his alma mater, Lincoln University, where he also served as a football, golf, basketball coach and the athletic director.

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973, the Winnipeg Football Hall of Fame in 1984 (the first year of its inception) and the College Football and Manitoba Sports Halls of Fame in 2005.

Black History Month Archives from 2024:

Rod Hill

Ed Ulmer

-James Murphy

-Tom Casey

-Milt Stegall