Tommy Touchdown ready for takeoff with Blue

Tommy Nield has already caught some flak from Riderville for leaving for their Prairie rival.

“(Jermarcus Hardrick) called me a traitor,” said Nield with a laugh in a Zoom call with the Free Press.

“But obviously, he’s one of the guys that only had good things to say about this place. At the end of the day, he was happy for me.”

Nield, a 26-year-old receiver from Guelph, Ont., recently signed a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in free agency that will reportedly pay him $175,000 in 2026 and $187,500 in 2027. The hefty pay bump came his way after a breakout campaign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“My agent had said he had some conversations with (Saskatchewan), but they never reached out with an offer so I kind of put two and two together,” said Nield.

“When I heard Winnipeg called and showed their interest, it just felt like I was going somewhere where I’m wanted and I couldn’t be more excited.”

After cutting his teeth with the Toronto Argonauts for four years, he signed with the Riders and posted career highs across the board — 42 catches, 535 receiving yards, and five touchdowns — in what was his first season being a consistent starter. But things didn’t look promising at the start. Nield suffered an ankle injury in the pre-season that sidelined him for the first five games.

“I’m thinking to myself I’m on a new team, I just got hurt, I don’t know what the rest of the year is going to look like for me, but just try to stay positive and locked in each day and once I do get that opportunity again, try to make the most of it,” said Nield, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 CFL Draft.

And he did. He made a statement on Labour Day against the Bombers with a 69-yard touchdown grab and his role only grew from there. When the West Final rolled around, his number was called in crunch time and he responded with a three-yard touchdown catch to lift the Riders to a 24-21 victory over the B.C. Lions.

“That play against B.C., it had been in (the playbook) for a bunch of weeks. We ran it in practice and it always worked but we hadn’t called it in a game yet,” said Nield.

“I was like ‘When is it coming?’ And then I hear that play called in that moment, and I think to myself ‘I’m about to score the game-winner right here.’ Sure enough, it happened and it was just a crazy feeling. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”

It also solidified his nickname: Touchdown Tommy.

“Some of my teammates in Toronto called me that, but I only scored two touchdowns in Toronto so I’m like yeah, I can score in practice, but it doesn’t really count,” said Nield.

“Someone asked me last year ‘Hey, what do you think of that nickname?’ It’s pretty cool. You don’t come up with your nickname, but there’s a lot worse ones out there. It fits for sure.”

The Riders finished the job a week later by outlasting the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 at Princess Auto Stadium. It was the third Grey Cup win of Nield’s young career as he won two titles (2022 and 2024) with the Argos in games that came against Winnipeg.

Nield’s hoping he can bring his good fortune to the Bombers and help a third team reach the top of the CFL mountain.

“That would be historical, for sure. It’s exciting to think about,” he said.

“Winning in Winnipeg would be incredible because I’ve only seen how much the Bombers mean out there. Winning a Grey Cup with them would be insane.”

Before the ink was even dry on his new contract, Nield was already trying to help the Bombers build a championship contender. The Canadian pass catcher is part of a stacked FA class that’s headed to Winnipeg featuring OL Jarell Broxton, DL Jake Ceresna, CB Jonathan Moxey, and REC Tim White.

“I was teammates with Jake in Toronto. I saw something on Twitter saying ‘Jake Ceresna considering Winnipeg as an option’ or something,” said Nield.

“So, after I signed, I messaged him on Instagram being like ‘Come to Winnipeg!’ and he messaged me 10 minutes later saying ‘I just did!’ and I was like ‘OK, sick.’

“It’ll be cool to be back with him. And obviously the other two, and (receiver) Tim White as well, those are big time additions. I’m excited to be part of it.”

With Nield on the roster, the Bombers now have the option to start three Canadians at receiver. Nic Demski is, obviously, locked in while Kevens Clercius and Joey Corcoran are expected to battle for the other spot. That would give the Bombers more flexibility with the ratio and allow them to start three Americans on the offensive line.

“I’m ready to go right now. Being put in that offence with Zach (Collaros), I know he throws a great ball and I’m just excited to build that chemistry and really take off next year.”

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