Kyle Walters
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |
 Walters at Winnipeg's 2019 Grey Cup parade | |
| Born: | July 23, 1973 St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada[1] |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | General manager |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| College | Guelph |
| CFL draft | 1996, round: 2, pick: 10 |
| Drafted by | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Career history | |
| As administrator | |
| 2013 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Ass. GM) |
| 2013–present | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (GM) |
| As coach | |
| 2004–2005 | Guelph Gryphons (DC) |
| 2006–2009 | Guelph Gryphons (HC) |
| 2010–2012 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (STC) |
| As player | |
| 1997–2003 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
Kyle Walters (born July 23, 1973) is a former professional Canadian football defensive back and is currently the general manager for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. Walters built the Winnipeg team that won the 107th Grey Cup 33–12 over Hamilton. He played for seven seasons for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and won a Grey Cup championship as a player with the team in 1999. Following his retirement, he became the defensive coordinator for the University of Guelph Gryphons and served as their head coach from 2006 to 2009.[2] He also played CIAU football for the Gyphons in the early 1990s.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
[edit]The Winnipeg Blue Bombers named Walters interim General Manager for the remainder of the 2013 CFL season following a disappointing 1–5 start. The team didn't finish any better, going 2-10 the rest of the way and failing to qualify for the CFL playoffs. Despite the disappointing finish to the year, the Bombers removed the interim tag and named Walters GM for the 2014 CFL season. In 2014 the Bombers finished 7-11 following a 5–1 start. In the offseason Walters made some key signings for the offensive line, including Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick.
Walters helped to build to foundation of a successful Blue Bombers team that saw them have four consecutive double-digit win seasons in 2019. The team carried this success into the 107th Grey Cup which they won over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–12. Due to the championship caliber team he had built, the Bombers extended his contract in 2019 through to the 2023 season.[3] Walters prefers to do the scouting for the team and work in the background, while Mike O'Shea does most of the media interviews for the team.[4] O'Shea was also extended at the same time, though his contract ends one year earlier in 2022.
CFL GM record
[edit]| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Result | |||
| WPG | 2013 | 2 | 10 | 0 | .166 | 4th in East Division | - | - | Interim - Failed to Qualify | |
| WPG | 2014 | 7 | 11 | 0 | .388 | 5th in West Division | - | - | Failed to Qualify | |
| WPG | 2015 | 5 | 13 | 0 | .278 | 4th in West Division | - | - | Failed to Qualify | |
| WPG | 2016 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 3rd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
| WPG | 2017 | 12 | 6 | 0 | .667 | 2nd in West Division | 0 | 1 | Lost in Division Semi-Finals | |
| WPG | 2018 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 3rd in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in Division Final | |
| WPG | 2019 | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 3rd in West Division | 3 | 0 | Won 107th Grey Cup | |
| WPG | 2020 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Season Cancelled | |
| WPG | 2021 | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 1st in West Division | 2 | 0 | Won 108th Grey Cup | |
| WPG | 2022 | 15 | 3 | 0 | .833 | 1st in West Division | 1 | 1 | Lost in 109th Grey Cup | |
| WPG | 2023 | 14 | 4 | 0 | .778 | 1st in West Division | - | - | TBD | |
| Total | 98 | 72 | 0 | .576 | 2 Division Championships |
7 | 4 | 2 Grey Cups | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "CFLapedia 'W' database". CFLapedia. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "Kyle Walters profile". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
- ^ "Blue Bombers re-sign head coach Mike O'Shea to new 3-year contract". CBC Manitoba. December 13, 2019.
- ^ Ken Wiebe (July 29, 2019). "Walters weighs in: Blue Bombers GM not getting ahead of himself". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved 2019-12-13.