Football Family: #CFLGameDay with the Bighills

It’s early afternoon at the Bighill household on a #CFLGameDay in Winnipeg.

A hearty family breakfast of eggs, bacon and pancakes has long since been wolfed down, and as Kristina Bighill preps for the night’s game — a five-minute drive away at Investors Group Field — the other three members of the household sleep.

There’s AJ, nearly three years old, and one-and-a-half year-old Leah.

And of course, there’s Adam Bighill: The Blue Bombers’ star linebacker. All three sleep soundly for about an hour and a half.


“His game-day ritual lately has been going to Subway before we go to the stadium,” laughs Kristina, a former NCAA golfer who met Adam while the latter was playing for the BC Lions. “He’ll get his meatball sub, then we’ll drop him off at the stadium, (and) especially with AJ, he understands now that the stadium means a football game.”

And the idea of a football game gets AJ pumped.

AJ and Leah Bighill before a game at Investors Group Field earlier this season. (provided photo)

“The cool thing is after games you get to go down on the field, (and) that’s AJ’s thing — as soon as we get to the stadium all he talks about is going on the field,” explains Kristina. “It’s pretty cute, after the game AJ will go with Adam into the locker room and hang out with him in there.”

Three cities — Vancouver, New Orleans and now Winnipeg — in two countries over the span of three years, with young children in tow, would be a challenge for anybody.

Luckily for the Bighills, the football community has helped.

“Not having the family support — all my family is from BC, and his is from Washington — was a challenge,” admits Kristina. “But the football community is pretty strong wherever you go. It’s hard, especially with little ones, being away from your own support system, (but) it’s good what we have here (in Winnipeg) with the wives and children.”

Two of the most adorable Bombers fans around. (provided photo)


Once the post-game spread’s been devoured in the suites at IGF, it’s back to Casa Bighill to wind the night down.

The kids are put to bed, teammate Craig Roh and his wife Chelsea come over, then the real games begin: Either Catan, the board game, or some intensive multiplayer video game action.

“They come over, we watch other CFL games or order pizza and indulge in some ice cream,” chuckles Kristina. “I’m in bed within an hour of coming home, and Adam’s usually up with Craig playing their Nintendo Switches for a few more hours.”

With Winnipeg’s final regular-season home game slated for next Friday against the first-place Stampeders, you can bet all four Bighills will be running around at IGF in Bombers gear.

A football family. 🏈 (provided photo)


Fans can follow both Adam and Kristina Bighill on Twitter.