Wade Miller (Canadian football)

Last updated
Wade Miller
2019 Grey Cup parade, Wade Miller.jpg
Miller at the Blue Bombers' 2019 Grey Cup parade.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
TitlePresident and CEO
CFL status National
Personal information
Born (1973-06-10) June 10, 1973 (age 52)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight215 [1]  lb (98 kg)
Career information
University Manitoba Bisons
CFL draft 1995: 4th round, 37th overall pick
Career history
Playing
1995–2005 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Operations
2013–present Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Awards and highlights
Stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Wade Miller (born June 10, 1973) is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Canadian Premier League's Valour FC, and a former professional Canadian football player.

Contents

Football playing career

University

Miller played linebacker with the Manitoba Bisons where he was a two-time Canada West All-Star (1993, 1994) and a CIAU All-Star in 1994. [2] He was also a member of the university’s wrestling team. [2] [3] At the University of Manitoba, Miller earned a Bachelor of Physical Education, Kinesiology and Exercise Science. [4]

Professional

Miller was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fourth round (37th overall) in the 1995 CFL draft as a linebacker. [2] [3] [5]

In 1997, he had 35 special teams tackles. He earned his first CFL East Division All-Star team nomination.

During the 1998 Blue Bombers season, Miller held the title of interim special-teams coach. [3] [4]

In 1999, Miller had 37 special teams tackles, which led the CFL. He earned his second CFL East Division All-Star team nomination.

In 2000, he was converted to fullback. [5] His career rushing statistics were 14 carries for 23 yards. [5]

In 2001, Miller played in his only Grey Cup game. In Winnipeg's 27-19 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, Miller had 2 special teams tackles.

Upon retirement after the 2005 season, Miller had played 11 seasons in the CFL, all with the Blue Bombers, appearing in 159 regular season games and eight playoff games. He held the CFL record for career special teams tackles with 184, which has been surpassed by Mike Miller and Jason Arakgi. [5] [6] [4]

Miller was inducted into the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 2011. [5]

Sports executive career

Winnipeg Football Club

The Winnipeg Football Club (WFC) appointed Miller as acting CEO in August 2013, following the resignation of Garth Buchko. [7] WFC, a not-for-profit community organization, [8] operates the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, controls Valour FC Inc, and controls Triple B Stadium Inc. [9]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

In November 2013, the Blue Bombers confirmed Miller as their new President and CEO. [10] Under his watch, the Blue Bombers football operations built a foundation of continuity. General Manager Kyle Walters, Assistant General Managers Danny McManus and Ted Goveia, and Head Coach Mike O'Shea, were hired shortly after Miller's promotion to full-time President and CEO, and spent more than a decade with the team. The Blue Bombers steadily improved from 3-15 in 2013 to appearing in five consecutive Grey Cups from 2019 to 2024; the Blue Bombers won 2019, which ended the team's 29 year Grey Cup drought, and 2021. The Blue Bombers finished first place and hosted the West Final in each season from 2021 to 2024.

In 2025, the team sold out all nine regular-season games, and extended its consecutive sell-out streak to 14. [11]

Valour FC Inc.

On June 6, 2018, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) announced the founding of a professional soccer team in Winnipeg named Valour FC, with Miller as President & CEO. [12]

Triple B Stadium Inc.

Triple B Stadium Inc. is a non-share corporation which owns Princess Auto Stadium, where the Blue Bombers and Valour FC play in Winnipeg. Originally, Triple B Stadium Inc. was owned by a consortium of the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Football Club and the University of Manitoba. [13] During Miller's tenure, effective October 21, 2021, the WFC will manage and operate the stadium in exchange for primary access to the facilities. [9] In 2022, WFC became the sole member of Triple B and has the ability to elect Triple B’s Directors. [9]

Personal

Miller was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. [14] He attended Sturgeon Creek High School in Winnipeg. [3] His father, Allen, played linebacker for the Blue Bombers during the 1960s after a short stint with the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. [5] His son Branson Miller signed with the University of Guelph Gryphons in 2024. [3] [15] His brother, Ritchie, works as an umpire for the CFL. [16]

Away from football, Miller has worked as an employment recruiter and motivational speaker. In 2002, he co-founded Pinnacle Staffing, an employment agency which specializes in executive and management recruitment. He is also involved in numerous other business ventures, including multiple Booster Juice franchises, and is an active member of the Blue Bombers Alumni Association. [14] [17] The Globe and Mail named Miller as one of Canada's Top 40 under-40 in 2007. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Randy Turner (October 4, 2014). "A man with a game plan". Winnipeg Free Press . Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  2. 1 2 3 Staff (2017-04-18). "Wade Miller". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "A Man with a Game Plan". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Teammates, business partners weigh in on Miller taking over Bombers top job". Winnipeg Sun. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Blue's Miller calls it quits". Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  6. ↑ "Miller Announces His Retirement". BlueBombers.com. 2006-03-21. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  7. ↑ "Blue Draft Miller". Winnipeg Free Press. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  8. ↑ "Winnipeg Football Club Board of Directors". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  9. 1 2 3 "2024 Annual Report: Winnipeg Football Club" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Miller honoured to become Bomber president and CEO". Winnipeg Free Press. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2013-11-12.
  11. ↑ Tait, Ed (2025-10-23). "Take a bow, Blue Bomber Faithful". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  12. ↑ CPL (2018-06-06). "Valour FC Joins Canadian Premier League". CPL. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  13. ↑ "Lawsuit alleges Winnipeg's IGF stadium leaky, mouldy".
  14. 1 2 "Bomber acting CEO on reasons for taking a seemingly impossible job". Winnipeg Free Press. 2013-08-16. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  15. ↑ "LinkedIn Post by Branson Miller". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  16. ↑ "CFL Blitz: Rookie QBs having never-before-seen success". Toronto Sun. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  17. ↑ "Meet the New Acting CEO". The Huddle. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
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