The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms with Global defensive lineman Thiadric Hansen, bringing him back for a third CFL season.
Hansen became a free agent in February but did not sign with a CFL club due to league rules which restricted Global players to a maximum salary of $54,000, less than the minimum salary for any other player. That rule has since changed as part of the CFL’s new collective bargaining agreement.
Selected second overall in the CFL’s 2019 European Draft, the native of Flensburg, Germany suited up for every regular-season game in 2019 and 2021 and was a key contributor on defence and special teams in Winnipeg’s back-to-back Grey Cup championships.
Hansen recorded eight defensive tackles and 12 special teams tackles in 14 games in 2021, registering three sacks and also forcing a fumble. He is best remembered for a hellacious hit on Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ returner Frankie Williams during the 2019 Grey Cup.
Prior to his time in the CFL, Hansen played with the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes from 2012 to 2018 and was with the Potsdam Royals when selected by the Blue Bombers. Following the team’s 2019 Grey Cup championship, he signed with the Wroclaw Panthers and helped lead them to a Polish championship.
Hansen has spent the offseason coaching in Poland and made headlines in March for his efforts to assist the BIPOC community during the Ukrainian refugee crisis.
