In the long history of the Canadian Football League, there has never been a player quite like Chris Streveler.
And that’s true whether we’re talking about the unique way he played quarterback or the iconic following he developed during a career spent predominantly as a backup.
No. 2 quarterbacks are often anonymous. This one gets a send-off with a pre-game tailgate party before tonight’s Hamilton-Winnipeg game, featuring a “Chris Streveler lookalike contest” and undoubtedly more hugs and handshakes than you can count.
Streveler, who retired from football in March, is going out with distinction, which pretty much describes a CFL career in which he was always better known for his running and physicality than airing the ball down the field.
“Winnipeg is a gritty city and when they see a quarterback putting his body on the line and then mixing it up with the fans off the field, they relate to that,” Streveler said. “And when I do meet people – even if it’s for 30 seconds – I always look them in the eye and I’m always positive about Winnipeg and my experience in the CFL. Combine all of that and it’s what brings us here today.
“The Grey Cup celebration of 2019 didn’t hurt either because that kind of took on a life of its own.”
Ah yes, the Grey Cup celebration. Streveler arrived bare-chested, wearing a fur coat, cowboy hat and large gold chain, chomping a cigar and chugging beers before telling the crowd, “I’m lit right now, you’re all lit right now … this is amazing … I love you guys, man. And we’re Grey Cup champions baby. That’s all there is!”
That moment has lived on in the six-and-a-half years since, with Streveler teasing his appearance this evening by posting a picture of his hat and coat on X Wednesday night.
“It’s crazy to think about because it happened so organically,” Streveler said. “I wore the coat out the night before and when I woke up I still had it on. Then I added the hat and [coach Mike] O’Shea gave me a cigar.
“The next year when I was in the NFL (where he spent four seasons before returning to Winnipeg) people were sending me pictures of their kids dressed as me for Halloween. But I’ve got the coat for tonight and I will be back in character.”
Streveler came to Winnipeg in 2018 after his stat line at the University of South Dakota jumped out to Paul LaPolice, now a TSN analyst but then the Blue Bombers offensive coordinator.
“During certain times of the season, we would apply our analytics for pass efficiency rating, completion percentage and rushing yards to college quarterbacks – and he hit all the parameters we look for,” said LaPolice. “So, I said, ‘Let’s put this guy on the [negotiation] list.’ He was former teammates with [Bomber receiver] Drew Wolitarsky, so I reached out and started the conversation. He came to our off-season mini-camp and when he wasn’t selected in the NFL draft, he called us and said, ‘I want to come.’”
Streveler was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA FCS football in 2017 and upon arrival in Winnipeg, he quickly earned the backup job behind Bombers’ starter Matt Nichols. The importance of that job mushroomed during training camp when Nichols suffered a knee injury (later revealed to be an ACL tear), putting Streveler in line to be a Week 1 starter, fresh out of college.
No CFL quarterback since Anthony Calvillo in 1994 with the Las Vegas Posse had come straight out of college to start a Week 1 CFL but that’s exactly what Streveler faced.
“I remember the moment [Nichols got hurt] the stadium went dead silent and I stepped into the huddle and one of the linemen said, ‘Okay rook, lead us,’” Streveler said who wound up starting the first four games for Winnipeg that season, going 2-2.
“I don’t think I appreciated how big of a deal it was. I was naïve and now I appreciate that moment so much more. It forced me to stay present and had that opportunity not happened I wouldn’t have got packages the rest of the year and probably don’t go to the NFL … being in the right place at the right time has always been a consistent aspect of my career.”
Though debates raged about whether Streveler had the consistency to start in the CFL, there was no debating his physical gifts and his ability to bring a toughness to the quarterback run game that was unparalleled.
“It’s always been something people love about my game,” Streveler said. “It’s my leadership style – being one of the guys, throwing my body around with the linemen. In high school they would tell me I couldn’t do this. And while you have to be smart, I have to play the game my way. That’s part of my edge, putting my body on the line and sacrificing like my teammates.”
That allowed LaPolice to turn Streveler into an additional weapon for the Bomber offence, with packages inserted into games where opposing defences would have to contend with a unique athlete under centre.
“Early in his career he demonstrated the ability to run with the football in a way that’s unique to most quarterbacks, running a 4.4 40 at 215 pounds,” said LaPolice. “As an OC, my job is to get productive players the football, so we built our short-yardage package to not just get a yard but create explosive plays. He could circle the defence for 35 yards instead of two.”
“Then we thought, why don’t we leave him in for a play or two because it’s more things that a defence can’t handle. The next season we just expanded that more, featuring a lot of simple stuff we could make a nightmare for defence. To do that it takes players like Strevy and Zach [Collaros] who were unselfish and just want to win a championship.”
“The other reason it worked? …Everybody loved Strevy.”
That playoff run and the Grey Cup celebration that followed is where the legend of Streveler became part of Winnipeg sports lore.
The Blue Bombers will sell out this evening for the 15th game in a row, an amazing streak for a franchise that made $12 million last season and whose players loved, adored and recognized throughout the city.
And, as tonight will make clearly evident, that includes the most iconic backup quarterback the league has ever known.
