Blue Bombers re-sign DB Nick Hallett

blue_gold_84 · February 11, 2026, 07:26:13 PM

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/02/11/blue-bombers-re-sign-defensive-back-nick-hallett/

QuoteThe Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran defensive back Nick Hallett.

He had officially hit the Canadian Football League free agent market on Tuesday.

Hallett (5-11, 190; University of Toronto; born: November 11, 1993, in London, Ont.) returns to the Blue Bombers for a seventh season after originally being selected by the club in the seventh round, 61st overall, in the 2019 CFL Draft.

A valuable contributor on special teams for his entire career, Hallett has appeared in 100 regular-season games for the Blue Bombers including seven starts at safety. He is also a two-time Grey Cup champion as a member of the 2019 and 2021 squads.

Hallett appeared in 14 games in 2025, registering two defensive tackles, nine on special teams while adding a forced fumble. He led the Blue Bombers in special teams tackles in 2023 with 20, third in the CFL, and now has 80 in his career – sixth most in franchise history.

Pigskin · February 11, 2026, 07:51:19 PM

Didn't think he was going anywhere yet. Solid Vet Canadian, and one of the leaders on teams.

Tecno · February 12, 2026, 05:57:31 PM

I'm keen on seeing more blocked kicks.

LXTSN · February 13, 2026, 04:06:26 PM

Great depth/special teams guy. Nice to have him back.

Blue In BC · February 13, 2026, 04:28:44 PM

I like Hallett. It's just a question of where do we find roster space to add 2026 draft choices. Obviously injuries happen in TC and some draft choices end up on PR. However some will make the AR.

This may mean they are not satisfied with Ball or Kelly. I wouldn't expect 3 Canadian DB's on the AR just as a roster size limitation.

Tecno · February 13, 2026, 09:12:17 PM

Well, with Gauthier gone, Hallett might now be the "oldster master yoda" guy for the ST / NAT D players. We know the Mafia system demands such a guy. Hallett seems nuts and doesn't seem to say much, but maybe in the locker room that's not true. Or maybe Mafia is getting him to morph & step up to be what they need.

And with Gauthier gone that frees up a spot.

STer-only NAT DPs could always be busts, as most are every season. And there's plenty of current AR/PR guys we owe no allegiance to who can be dropped (i.e. Ball et al). Let the best player earn his spot.

Blue In BC · February 14, 2026, 03:32:26 PM

Gauthier could probably play for another couple of years. Football rosters always have to make these kinds of decisions. Succession choices caused by draft players that are younger, less expensive and appear to have more upside.

We drafted 3 lB's in 2025 so something had to give in theory. I don't know what the injury was for Novak or whether he could also get bumped by a new player this season. Regardless, we also have Cadwallader so we're pretty deep at the position.

Veteran leadership will be missed but we'll adjust.

It's not impossible that another team doesn't look to add him to their roster although he may have other plans.

He might even have a thought of a coaching career in his future? IDK, but always liked him for his effort on ST's.

Hallett kind of fell into the same category and his retention may mean that Kelly and Ball are not quite ready to take over his role.

Throw Long Bannatyne · February 14, 2026, 04:06:36 PM

Quote from: Blue In BC on February 14, 2026, 03:32:26 PMGauthier could probably play for another couple of years. Football rosters always have to make these kinds of decisions. Succession choices caused by draft players that are younger, less expensive and appear to have more upside.

We drafted 3 lB's in 2025 so something had to give in theory. I don't know what the injury was for Novak or whether he could also get bumped by a new player this season. Regardless, we also have Cadwallader so we're pretty deep at the position.

Veteran leadership will be missed but we'll adjust.

It's not impossible that another team doesn't look to add him to their roster although he may have other plans.

He might even have a thought of a coaching career in his future? IDK, but always liked him for his effort on ST's.

Hallett kind of fell into the same category and his retention may mean that Kelly and Ball are not quite ready to take over his role.

Gauthier was working as a certified electrician for Haut Electric during his off-seasons, he's probably embedded in Wpg. enough to stay in the community.

The video below suggests the CFLPA may have helped with his career transition.

theaardvark · February 14, 2026, 07:42:16 PM

Shane has been given the call, "We're not going to offer a contract" by MOS. With all the young NAT LB's, its not a mystery why, he's a ST leader and a glue guy, but I guess he's just aged out...

Thanks, Shane, for the great plays, especially that GC saving chase down.

BLUEBOMBER · February 15, 2026, 06:43:50 AM

Sometimes you gotta shake things up. Gauthier was getting complacent and wasn't getting it done.

gobombersgo · February 15, 2026, 10:22:18 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 14, 2026, 04:06:36 PMGauthier was working as a certified electrician for Haut Electric during his off-seasons, he's probably embedded in Wpg. enough to stay in the community.

The video below suggests the CFLPA may have helped with his career transition.

Gauthier's agent said Shayne still wants to pay.

https://3downnation.com/2026/02/14/winnipeg-blue-bombers-move-on-from-veteran-shayne-gauthier/

blue_gold_84 · February 15, 2026, 03:38:58 PM

Quote from: BLUEBOMBER on February 15, 2026, 06:43:50 AMSometimes you gotta shake things up. Gauthier was getting complacent and wasn't getting it done.

I don't know how accurate that is. He's typically been a depth/ST guy for this team. He'll be 34 next week and with all LB pieces coming in this off-season, he seems to have become expendable to this roster.

Pigskin · February 15, 2026, 03:48:44 PM

Quote from: blue_gold_84 on February 15, 2026, 03:38:58 PMI don't know how accurate that is. He's typically been a depth/ST guy for this team. He'll be 34 next week and with all LB pieces coming in this off-season, he seems to have become expendable to this roster.

Agree, we need to start playing some of our young LBs a little more.

Blue In BC · February 15, 2026, 04:44:11 PM

Quote from: Pigskin on February 15, 2026, 03:48:44 PMAgree, we need to start playing some of our young LBs a little more.

We should see Shay take on some of the short yardage and goal line roles that Gauthier played.

theaardvark · February 15, 2026, 04:50:09 PM

Quote from: gobombersgo on February 15, 2026, 10:22:18 AMGauthier's agent said Shayne still wants to pay.

https://3downnation.com/2026/02/14/winnipeg-blue-bombers-move-on-from-veteran-shayne-gauthier/

No doubt he will get a paycheck, and it will be more than he makes as an electrician.

Obby, Harris, Biggie... all got paychecks after the Bombers moved on, but none recaptured past glory, and Shayne, bless his heart, doesn't have much past "glory".

No doubting his heart, his football knowledge, and his ability/desire to make those special ST plays, chasing down players he shouldn't be able to. But its a numbers game, and we just have too many good, young, NAT LB's on the roster, even with SG44's space open, we're still going to lose a player who was a decent draft pick after camp.