He was the picture of perseverance and long symbolized the value of hard work.
And during his eight years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Brandon Alexander transformed from a young prospect jumping the line to get more reps to impress coaches during training camp to one of the most-respected leaders in the team’s locker room.
On Sunday Alexander — a member of the 2019 and 2021 Grey Cup championship squads who played with the club from 2017-24 — announced his departure from the Blue Bombers with a post on Facebook after not being offered a contract from the club. He remains a Canadian Football League free agent.
Alexander suited up for 89 games during his days with the Blue Bombers and was named a CFL All-Star in 2021 and a West Division All-Star in 2021 and 2023. A versatile defender who started all over the secondary, Alexander blossomed at the safety position by blending his intelligence and preparation with his athleticism and toughness.
He arrived in Winnipeg in 2017 after popping out at a free agent camp in Florida and then caught the coaching staff’s attention by simply out-working everyone in his position group at training camp that spring. He took reps at every spot during camp, often jumping in front of other players to get more work.
In essence, that snapshot became the story of his entire career with the Blue Bombers.
“I did that for four straight practices,” Alexander told bluebombers.com last year. “And then on Sunday we’re all in the defensive meeting room and we’re wondering if we’re going home or coming back for main camp.
“Coach Osh (Mike O’Shea) walks in and says, ‘Where’s No. 26 at?’ That’s the number I wore during the camp. He told me to stand in front of the whole group – I had no idea what he was going to say – and he just said, ‘This guy right here is coming back to camp with us.’ One person asked, why. I guess they already had the film ready, and they turn it on from the past two days I had probably had half the reps. The film would show one person going and then I would go. Then I would go again. Then another person goes, and I would go again and again. Everybody is sitting there going, ‘Dang…’ Nobody could say anything because regardless of whether I was getting an interception or a knockdown or being beat for a touchdown. Coach said, ‘Yeah, he got beat sometimes. But look at this and tell me this guy didn’t want the opportunity. He was dog tired, but he didn’t care.’
“That’s how my whole life has been written,” Alexander added. “I skipped a grade when I was younger, going from Grade 4 to Grade 6. So, I’ve always been the youngest. I was always the smallest kid, the slowest kid, the shortest kid. And I got picked on because I was short but with big feet.
“But I was always working to prove I was as good or better than the next kid and I didn’t always prove that through my skills; I proved that by my willingness to out-work everybody. Getting beat as a DB is like falling down in life. You have to get back up. You can’t be on the ground forever. Football is life. I learned a lot of things in life through football.”
A product of the University of Central Florida who was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy — awarded annually to the top walk-on player in NCAA college football — Alexander admittedly didn’t know where Winnipeg was when he was first signed by the club. He ends up leaving after eight years and after marrying a Winnipegger and having a son here.
Wrote Alexander in his post:
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