‘He’s pretty much the heartbeat of that defence’

Redha Kramdi felt like an imposter.

Before he could sink his teeth into his first training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2021, the rookie defensive back got a call that his older brother and biggest supporter, Sami, had died in his sleep. After flying back home to Montreal to grieve with family, Kramdi returned to Winnipeg and made his debut in a Week 2 contest against Toronto.

“After everything I went through with me losing a family member, I get a chance to play football which, for most of us, is our safe space,” said Kramdi in a Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday to discuss his new two-year contract extension.

“Then I get pushed in the back and tore my hamstring up so I’m on the six-game (injured list) and ended up missing most of my first season.”

He finished the year with one special teams tackle in seven appearances — hardly what you’d expect from a player chosen in the second round, 16th overall.

“Early on in my career I kind of doubted myself with everything that was going on in my life. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play football and if I was the player I thought I was,” said Kramdi, a University of Montreal product.

“Later on, I just took it day by day and step by step, just wanting to prove to myself that I belong in the CFL. I wasn’t even thinking about defence, just about whether I belong in the CFL,” he continued. “And then you just put your head down and then just achieve small goals and just wait. You don’t think about the bigger picture and being a star or a player on defence, you just want to be dressed, you just want to make the team, you just want to be on the active roster and then have an impact on special teams.

“Those small goals add up to playing on defence.”

That came to fruition in Week 7 of the 2023 season when the Bombers tabbed him to replace veteran American Alden Darby Jr. at the dime back spot — one of the most complicated positions in the Canadian game.

Kramdi hasn’t looked back since, and the now 28-year-old has evolved into one of the most valuable players on defence for the Blue and Gold, which is why the club was eager to get a deal done with him as soon as possible.

Kramdi was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

“It’s an achievement itself, so I’m pretty happy, pretty proud of myself to be honest,” said Kramdi.

“I feel grateful that the organization trusts me and is paying me to play football and to be the starter at an American position. So, a grateful heart filled with love and I’m ready to go. I’m just ready to put it all on the line for these people, for the front office, for the coaches, for my teammates.”

Overcoming the hurdles that life has thrown his way hasn’t been easy, but Kramdi believes facing his emotions head on has helped a great deal.

“We talk about death — for me personally, it’s not something you get over, it’s something you just learn to deal with your whole life. A void will always be there and not filled by anything else; you just need to be OK with it and understand it. That’s how I feel about it,” said Kramdi.

“If you don’t feel like you’re where you need to be, you need to talk about it. There ain’t no shame in it. I’m a firm believer that we all need (to talk about) it.”

He made 47 defensive tackles and tallied the first interception and forced fumble of his five-year career during the 2025 campaign. While his stats don’t jump off the page, his teammates have made it widely known just how respected Kramdi is.

Bombers halfback Evan Holm — who was the team’s 2025 nominee for the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award — said back in October that Kramdi was more deserving.

“Without Redha, I don’t think our defence would run the same,” said Holm.

“He’s like a quarterback back there for us and he makes his plays, too. He can be in coverage, he can be in the box and he’s directing traffic out there. He would be my choice.”

Running back Brady Oliveira — who signed a three-year extension on Monday and spoke to reporters on Tuesday — shared similar praise.

“I love Redha to death. Extremely excited that he got what he deserved and that he’s back with us,” said Oliveira.

“He’s pretty much the heartbeat of that defence.”

Kramdi wasn’t interested in testing the open market. He’s happy in Winnipeg and believes that with Zach Collaros at quarterback, Oliveira running the ball, and Mike O’Shea wearing the headset that they can bounce back from last year’s East semifinal loss and return to contender status.

“Not a good salesman. I play football,” said Kramdi.

“But one thing about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers: I would never bet against them.”

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