Kind Hearted Beautiful Soul on and off the field

A year ago, Kemari Munier-Bailey arrived at Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp trying to adjust to a new league, new coaches and a new country.

After spending most of last season on the practice roster learning the CFL game, the Global defensive lineman from Birmingham, England, enters camp this year in a much different position — competing to earn a roster spot.

Munier-Bailey smiled as he recalled watching games last season with teammates, saying the loud crowds and atmosphere at Princess Auto Stadium kept motivating him to push through another week.

“You’re still doing something great, you still started something great,” Munier-Bailey said of the mindset he tried to maintain while on the practice roster. “That’s how I was trying to look at it.”

But the 24-year-old admitted his first CFL season was emotionally difficult at times, especially while waiting for an opportunity to prove himself after making his pro debut in Winnipeg’s final regular-season game in 2025.

“It was really hard, man. I was telling my mom, like, ‘I don’t know,’” he said. “I even cried. I cried because I love football. I do love football. I love sports, and everybody’s always like, ‘There’s more you can do,’ but like, I don’t feel like I was getting a chance to really show why I’m here, you know?”

Head coach Mike O’Shea said the transition into a first CFL training camp can be overwhelming for many players because of the mental demands that come with learning a new system and style of play.

“I think in your first training camp, for a lot of guys, it can be exhausting,” O’Shea said. “All the mental aspects of learning a new playbook, learning a new language for a lot of guys, different field sizes, different positions, extra guy on the field — a lot of stuff is quite foreign to them.”

Munier-Bailey said conversations with O’Shea and support from team staff helped him push through those challenges.

“I feel like coming to coach (O’Shea), he was there for me emotionally and stuff, therapists were here, you know, just made me appreciate the game a little more,” he said. “But it was really hard.”

“I feel like it was one of the most emotional times I’ve ever been in, both spiritually, mentally.”

The Bombers traded up to select Munier-Bailey second overall in the 2025 CFL Global Draft.

His path to Winnipeg included a late transition from basketball — where he represented Great Britain’s junior national team — to football before developing his game at the U.S. college level with stops at Idaho, Fresno State and Weber State. His breakout season came in 2024 at Weber State, where he recorded nine sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss while earning FCS Central All-America Third Team and second-team All-Big Sky honours.

“I’m just trying to be the best for my team, for real,” Munier-Bailey said. “Like this off-season has really shown me to be a sponge, to take in stuff. So this training camp, I’m trying to take in as much information.”

Munier-Bailey spent part of his off-season in Utah, where he trained while reconnecting with former coaches, teammates and friends. He also returned to England to visit his family, where he is the oldest of 21 siblings, including 12 sisters and nine brothers.

“That’s why I even do this, that’s why they went to college. I didn’t even want to go to college, but I want to show them, you know, this stuff’s possible,” he said. “It’s not even just my siblings, my cousins, it’s the kids that I was raised around in the community.”

Munier-Bailey said many people back home in England are following his CFL journey.

“I didn’t realize until I went home how many people were watching it,” he said.

When he is not focused on football, Munier-Bailey also works on his fashion line, Kind Hearted Beautiful Soul, which he says is a fun outlet away from the field.

“I love that, I love being able to express, I love drawing, I just like new things, really,” he said.

Now, Munier-Bailey is hoping the next “new thing” is becoming a regular part of Winnipeg’s defensive line rotation.

“I want to see him compete for a spot,” O’Shea said. “That’s that was the goal when we talked in exit meetings, just come in ready to compete for a spot.”

Camp notes

Several players were out of practice or did not fully participate, including receivers Nic Demski and Ontaria Wilson, defensive backs Trey Vaval, Jonathan Moxey and Ethan Ball, defensive linemen Jake Ceresna, Tanner Schmekel and Nuer Gatkuoth, as well as offensive lineman Bucky Williams.

The Bombers also released American receiver Gerald Monroe on Friday.

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