By Sam Cortes, Communications Coordinator
They are known as Milt Stegall’s ‘Six Guarantees in Life’ and they became legendary as he established himself as a Winnipeg Blue Bombers and sporting icon in these parts.
Those guarantees – proverbially chiseled into stone tablets and declared as commandments by the man himself — read as follows, in no particular order:
‘Death, taxes, trouble, Milt being on time, Milt being pretty, and Milt being in great shape.’
A seventh should now be added, if we could be so bold – Milt being inducted into sporting shrines in the many places he made an impact over his career, with the latest being the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, as part of the class of 2023.
Stegall, a product of Cincinnati, Ohio, first came north to Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers in 1995, and over the next 14 seasons he made a remarkable imprint on the franchise, this community, and this province.
Upon his retirement after the 2007 season, Stegall had destroyed the Blue Bombers and Canadian Football League record books and remains the league’s all-time touchdown leader with 147, while still holding the standard for touchdowns in a season, with 23 in 2002 – the same year he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player. His name dominates the Blue Bombers record book with two marks in particular – his 15,153 yards receiving and the 147 TDs – seemingly untouchable.
Influenced greatly by his parents Betty and Garland, Stegall took their hard-working approach to his daily training and dedication to his craft as a receiver. He admittedly wasn’t the fastest player on the field, but he was relentless in his training.
His connection with this province grew beyond the playing field and he still returns regularly as an analyst on the CFL on TSN telecasts, but also for numerous charitable appearances. Along the way, he and his wife Darlene and two sons Chase and Colin have also become champions for Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers and the CFL.
A nine-time CFL All-Star, he was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 2009, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and, upon his retirement in 2007, was also awarded the Order of Buffalo Hunt and given a key to the city. Arena Road – which runs where the old Winnipeg Arena and Winnipeg/Canad Inns Stadium once stood – was also renamed ‘Milt Stegall Drive.’
“Those 14 years seem like a day because I enjoyed every single minute of it,” said Stegall upon his addition to the Blue Bombers Ring of Honour in 2016. “I wouldn’t change one thing about the 14 years I spent in the CFL and in Winnipeg.”
-Ed Tait covered Stegall’s entire career in Winnipeg with both the Winnipeg Sun and Winnipeg Free Press and now writes for bluebombers.com.
Join Us at the Annual Induction Ceremony
Want to be there for Milt Stegall’s induction, along with the rest of the class of 2023? Hear their stories and relive the defining moments that have shaped the sport community over the past five decades. Plus, enjoy cocktails and small bites in an intimate celebration with our honoured guests.
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:30 p.m.
Victoria Inn, Winnipeg MB
