Mike Bradley’s road to becoming a two-time Grey Cup Champion is inspirational. He overcame the claims that he was too small for football with strength, speed, dedication and a big heart. With a fiercely competitive edge, he led the Haliburton football team to multiple league titles, setting virtually every school record, including an amazing 379-yard rushing game and 110-yard punt return in 1995.
At the University of Waterloo, Mike was starting tailback with the Waterloo Warriors, earned league MVP, was a finalist for the Hec Creighton Award, and led the Warriors to the Yates Cup. His university football career included school records of 3773 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns. He won “First Team All Canadian” twice, and was inducted into the University of Waterloo Athletic Hall of Fame.
Despite these impressive accomplishments, the professional teams were reluctant to take a chance on him. They overlooked Mike until 2002, when he was signed as a free agent by the Edmonton CFL team, and given a last-minute invitation to their training camp. He excelled and soon became a fan favourite in Edmonton.
In six years with the CFL, Mike played for the winning team in two Grey Cup games, 2003 and 2005. He was especially proud to bring the Grey Cup home to Haliburton County, sharing it with friends, family and fans. Overcoming a number of injuries and setbacks, Mike beat the odds at every level of his football career. He is an inspiration to young athletes who are told they will never succeed.
Upon retirement from football, Mike joined the Durham Regional Police Force. His heart is still in the Haliburton Highlands, and he continues to enjoy family time on Koshlong Lake.
