by Chris Lawton
Reading Time: 9 minutes.
The Ring Bearers – a select few players who have won a championship in both the CFL and the NFL. There are a small number of such players who have won both Super Bowl and Grey Cup rings.
I am not sure I have found them all here but wanted to celebrate the ones I have found. It would be good to know also if any players won a World Bowl (WLAF or NFLEurope) and a Grey Cup ring too but I can’t find any imformation on that.
Do let me know of any if you know of any winners of any of either. Be that a Super Bowl/Grey Cup ring combo missed here. Or an alternative pro league championship and Grey cup Ring Bearers combination. You can find me here.
We could have chosen to list these players in date order. But I thought it might be more interesting to do it by team. Especially as only 6 CFL teams are represented by Super Bowl winning ring bearers, and one of those is a defunct CFL team.
BC Lions Ring Bearers
The BC Lions have had two players win a Grey Cup with them who have also picked up a Super Bowl ring. The Lions also have a player on their list who has done a unique pro football championship ‘treble’.
Barry Wilburn
Cornerback Barry Wilburn won a Grey Cup ring in 1994 with the BC Lions and a Super Bowl ring in 1988 as a member of the Washington Redskins.
Wilburn started his pro career playing for Washington from 1985 to 1989. A period that saw him pick up a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl XXII a game in which he recorded two interceptions in the 42-10 victory.
In the CFL he had a brief nomadic career. Wilburn was originally signed by Saskatchewan in June of 1993 and released in November of 1993. BC picked him up in September of 1994 and released him in November, 1994. But that was long enough for him to play in 5 games recording 7 tackles to contribute to their Grey Cup winning season that year.
Three Rings Bobby Singh
Guard Bobby Singh is the only player to win three seperate pro football league titles. This is because Singh won a Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams in 1999, an XFL Championship ring with the Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001 and a Grey Cup Championship with the British Columbia Lions in 2006.
Singh picked up his Super Bowl ring for Super Bowl XXXIV as a member of the Rams pratice roster. Following back surgery he was inactive for a season before resurfacing in the XFL. There he played six regular season and two playoff games, and was part of that league’s first and only championship winning team.
Between 2002 & 2009 Singh Played in the CFL, variously for the Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2003 as a Stampeder he was a finalist for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman Award. 2005 saw him named as the BC Lions nominee for Outstanding Lineman. In 2006 he dressed for 12 games, the Western Final and the Grey Cup, which the Lions won.
Calgary Stampeders
There are three Ring Bearers on the Calgary Stampeders list. This includes our first double Super Bowl winners too.
Harald Hasselbach
Defensive end Harald Hasselbach won a Grey Cup ring in 1992 with the Calgary Stampeders and a Super Bowl ring in 1997 with the Denver Broncos.
Hasselbach is an unusual CFL player in the he was born in the Netherlands. But he had played High School football in BC and that qualified him as a non-import under then CFL rules.
Harald played for four years with the Stampeders from 1990 to 1993. He only played in 3 games in his first season but played full seasons in 1992 & 1993. In 1993 he recorded 7 sacks and was a CFL All-Star before heading off to the NFL.
A Grey Cup ring was picked up in the 1992 season that saw him contribute in 18 games on the way to a 13-5 record and West Division title.
He played for the Broncos from 1994 to 2000 and was on the roster for Super Bowl XXXII and a starter in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Brandon Browner
Cornerback Brandon Browner is the second double Super Bowl winner as he collected one Grey Cup ring and two Super Bowl rings.
Browner was initially signed by the Denver Broncos in 2005. A forearm fracture saw him put on IR. So he headed North instead. He was with the Stamps from 2006-10. Between 2008-10 he was named a CFL All-Star three times. Winning a Grey Cup with the 13-5 Stamps in 2008.
He would sign with the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 and play for various NFL teams between 2011 and 2016.
Browner won a Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks for Super Bowl XLVIII. Although he was suspended for the game itself. The following year he won Super Bowl XLIX as a New England Patriot playing against the Seahawks. This time he did play, made 3 tackles and was on the field for the game winning moment.
The story does not have a happy ending however. Browner is currently serving an 8 year sentence for attempted murder.
Daniel Federkeil
Offensive tackle Daniel Federkeil had played for the Calgary Dinos college team. He was drafted by Toronto. However he signed as a Free Agent with the Indianapolis Colts instead. He was on the practice roster mostly but did play against the Chiefs in the playoffs on the way to the Colts winning Super Bowl XLI.
Federkeil retired from the NFL at the end of the 2009 season, having played in 26 regular season games; starting in 3 regular season games and 1 playoff game.
The Calgary Stampeders acquired his rights in 2013. After which he came out of retirement to play pro football where he had played college ball. He made 59 appearances over 5 games with the Stamps. Including picking up a Grey Cup ring on a 15-3 team in 2014.
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes returned to the CFL in 1996. Since then they had been the dominant team in the East. They had one losing season, and won the East Division nine times in that span. By 2010 they were the defending Grey Cup Champions.
That year (2010) they would be appearing in their third Grey Cup game in a row and eighth title game appearance in eleven years.
Brandon London
Wide Receiver Brandon London signed for that team. He did not play but was on the practice roster and qualified for a ring as a member of the squad that won that title.
He may be better remembered for his next few seasons with the team because of the contributions he made then. From 2011-14 he would make 137 carches for 2,187 yards and 8 TD’s.
Prior to his time in the CFL, London had been in the NFL from 2007-10. It was in that first year, as a member of the New York Giant Practice squad that he picked up a championship ring for Super Bowl XLII.
London was always seen as a consumate pro who put the needs of the team first. Post football, Brandon London has carved out a media career for himself as an actor, television host and model. He can be found on twitter still engaging with the sport.
Toronto Argonauts
As with the Stampeders, there are three Ring Bearers I can find in the Toronto Argonauts ranks. In an odd quirk, every one of those player was a Wide Receiver.
Terry Greer
Wide receiver Terry Greer took home a total of three championship rings as a player. The first in 1983 as a member of the Toronto Argonauts. Followed by back to back Super Bowl wins with the San Francisco 49ers in 1989 and 1990.
Greer spent six seasons with the Argos from 1980 to 1985. In his rookie season, Greer had 37 catches for 552 yards. Next season, 1981 injuries limited Greer to only 6 games.
However in 1982 he emerged as a true receiving superstar. From 1982-1986, Greer went over one thousand yards receiving and was named an East All-Star in every season. In 1982 & 1983 he was named All-Canadian .
In 1982 Greer grabbed 85 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was even better a year later, grabbing 113 catches for an astonishing 2,003 yards.
This was the first time that any pro receiver went over the 2,000-yard mark. That season the Argos would win their first Grey Cup in 31 years.
As a depth player, Greer was on the Niners squads that won Super Bowl XXIII and Super Bowl XXIV respectively. In all in his time in the Bay he appeared in 24 games. Where he came off the bench occasionally to make 15 catches for 257 yards and 1 TD.
Tyrone Williams
Wide receiver Tyrone Williams only played two seasons in the CFL. However it was long enough to win a Grey Cup ring. Calgary signed him in September of 1995. After 6 receptions for 81 yards and a TD in 7 games he was traded to Toronto. There in 1996, he had 60 receptions for 895 yards and 8 TD’s to contribute to the Argos championship.
The Miami Dolphins signed Williams in 1997 but he opted to retire.
Two Super Bowl rings had come in the games Super Bowl XXVII & XXVIII. Williams was on the practice squad of the first of these. But he didn’t play in a regular season or playoff game for the Cowboys that year.
In 1993 he appeared in the Cowboys last five games of the regular season. Although he received a Super Bowl ring, he did not participate in the Championship game. British fans might remember him making 5 catches and 157 yards, including a game-tying 53 yard touchdown pass in the 1993 American Bowl game at Wembley.
Andre Rison
Wide receiver Andre Rison, won the Super Bowl in 1997 with the Green Bay Packers. And the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2004.
Rison’s time in the CFL really didn’t make much of a splash. Following a successful NFL career and three years of retirement he signed on with the Argos.
As part of the 2004 squad he picked up a Grey Cup ring but only contributed 14 catches in 6 games.
In total over 2 seasons (1994/5) Rison had 15 receptions for 178 yards and 1 TD. Then he was done in the CFL.
Stark contrast to his NFL CV. There he played for a variety of different teams and was a 5 time Pro Bowl selection. As well as being First team All-Pro in 1990.
In the NFL he played 186 games. Making 743 receptions covering 10,205 yards and scoring 84 TD’s.
His most productive years were with Atlanta. Yet he picked up a Super Bowl ring is one season in Green Bay. That year he had 47 catches for 593 yards and 3 TD’s.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
I can only find one player who is a Ring Bearer for both the Blue Bombers and an NFL team. Yet again that team is a Washington team from the 1980’s.
Tim Jessie
Running Back Tim Jessie was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1987, and went on to play for the Washington Redskins. That was the strike shortened season that an 11-4 record saw them all the way to winning Super Bowl XXII.
That season his stats read 10 carries for 37 yards and a TD, 1 catch for 8 yards and 4 kick returns for 73 yards.
In 1988 he was in Winnipeg and picking up a Grey Cup win as the 9-9 Blue Bombers knocked off the BC Lions 22-21 in an exciting final.
His most productive season came in 1989 when he had 160 carries for 808 yards and 9 TD’s for the defending champs who were knocked out in the Eastern Final.
Baltimore Stallions
Finally we come to the defunct CFL team that provides the last of our Ring Bearers. The Baltimore Stallions only existed for two years. But they were so successful, (27-9 over two seasons and appeared in back to back championship games and won a Grey Cup), that they round out the players to win both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl ring.
Alvin Walton
Safety Alvin Walton won two Super Bowl rings with the Washington Redskins in 1987 and 1991. Before going on to win a Grey Cup ring in 1995 as a member of the Baltimore Stallions.
He was drafted by Washington in 1986 and was part of the Super Bowl XXII and XXVI winning teams. He was especially good against the run, and a hard hitter. Walton appeared in a total of 77 games and had 12 picks.
In 1992 the team released him and he did not return to Pro Football until Baltimore offered that chance in 1994. The Stallions went to two Grey Cups. And Walton scored a 4 yard fumble return TD in the big game in their winning effort in 1995.
In a sad postscript to his career his wife pawned his two Super Bowl rings and hoped to redeem them when the family’s situation improved.
Josh Miller
Punter Josh Miller, picked up rings as a member of the Stallions in 1995 and as a member of the New England Patriots in 2005.
Miller signed for the Stallions in 1994. Both years in the league he was voted a CFL All-Star. He scored on a Rouge (single point) in the 1995 Grey Cup. This when a wind assisted punt bounced out of the End Zone.
Josh would play for four NFL teams from 1996-2008. His Super Bowl ring came during a run with the Patriots. He picked up a ring in Super Bowl XXXIX. A game in which 7 punts averaged 45 yards per kick and 2 landed inside the ten yard line.
Post football he has been an analyst. And has his own sporting goods company specializing in weighted training aids for hockey, lacrosse, and golf.
O.J. Brigance: An inspirational Ring Bearer
Linebacker O.J. Brigance, became one of the Ring Bearers as a member of the Stallions in 1995 and the Baltimore Ravens in 2001. Brigance is the only player to have won both a Super Bowl ring and a Grey Cup ring for teams based in the same city.
O.J. Brigance arrived in the CFL with the BC Lions in 1991 after a stellar three-year career at Rice University. He played for three years with the Lions starting in 54 games. He played 3 seasons with the Lions. Where he was obviously successful because he won West All-Stars honours in both 1991 and 1993.
In 1994, when the CFL expanded to include American franchises, he signed with the Baltimore Stallions. Brigance went to the Grey Cup twice with Baltimore. Losing in 1994 and winning in 1995 on the only American team to Win the Grey Cup.
Brigance was named a team captain twice after joining the Miami Dolphins in 1996. In 2000, he became a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Where he was a key contributor. Especially on special teams as the Ravens went on to win Super Bowl XXXV. He played for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and 2002 and wound up his playing career with the New England Patriots in 2003.
Brigance continues to inspire. In 2007, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. There is no known cure for the motor neuron disease. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, life expectancy after being diagnosed is usually two to five years. But the former LineBacker is a fighter and is still here. He continues to advocate for the Brigance Brigade Foundation. An organization whose mission is to “equip, encourage and empower” those with ALS.
Banner Image: One of the Ring Bearers, OJ Brigance in action for the Baltimore Stallions. Image from cflaa.ca
Via: http://ninetynineyards.com/2021/01/15/ring-bearers/
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