WINNIPEG, MB. –The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have announced that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with the CFL Most Outstanding Linemen Stanley Bryant. 

Bryant is a six-foot-five-inches 306 pound American offensive linemen out of East Carolina University (ECU). As a transfer walk-on, Bryant started in eight games and ranked second on his unit with 40 knockdowns in 584 plays from scrimmage. He declared for the 2009 NFL draft concluding his senior year. He would not be drafted but would sign with the Denver Broncos in April and be released in August. 

Bryant would go on to sign with Calgary Stampeders in June 2010 and would make his CFL debut in October 2010 against the BC Lions. Bryant would appear in 66 games in five seasons with the Stampeders that would honor him with being named the teams’ Most Outstanding Linemen in 2011 and 2013. Bryant was also named a division and CFL All-Star (2013, 2014).

In 2015 Bryant would sign with the Blue Bombers where he would go on to play in 103 games. 

During that time Bryant became one of the most decorated linen in Blue Bombers and CFL history. He was named to the CFL All-Star team for a sixth time at left tackle, Bryant was also selected as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, and in so doing became the first player in league history to win that award three times after having previously been honored in 2017 and 2018.

Bryant was also named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the fifth time and has been so honored seven times in his career. 

He was part of an offense that led the CFL in scoring in 2021 and anchored a unit that surrendered the fewest quarterback sacks while helping three different running backs compile the second-best rushing totals in the league this season.

Bryant touch bases with Blue bombers.com and had this to say about his return to Winnipeg

“It’s deeper than football. There are guys on the team that you’re cool with, guys that you’d still be cool with even if they go to another team or when you retire. For me, it’s Paddy (Neufeld), Yosh (Hardrick), Darvin (Adams), Jake (Thomas), Mike (Couture) – look, I hate trying to say all the names because then I’ll get somebody who sees this say, ‘So, you didn’t mention me, huh?’ – there’s so many guys on this team like that.

Those are guys I have a forever bond with. It’s bigger than football. Those aren’t just my friends on the football team, those are my friends outside of football. We’ve built a relationship over the years where we can for sure call each other brothers. I love those guys to death.”

I just don’t think it would have been smart for me to leave that situation and what I helped build here in Winnipeg,” he added. “I was part of the building process when I first got there and look at where things are now. There would have been no point in leaving the legacy I’ve helped build in Winnipeg and then try and do that somewhere else.”