Tachinski returns to his flag football roots

For years, Jackson Tachinski watched doors close, knowing another one was bound to open.

It happened time and time again during his five years as the Manitoba Bisons’ starting quarterback, trusting that he would find the right opportunity to deliver a strike.

Tachinski recently experienced something similar when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers released him following the club’s training camp last month. It’s the third time that the quarterback-turned-receiver had the door slammed shut on his CFL dreams, having also been let go by the Edmonton Elks in each of the last two springs.

Tachinski landed on his feet each time, however, and this time was no different.

Shortly after leaving the Bombers, the 24-year-old agreed to join the Canadian senior men’s flag football team, beginning a new pursuit on the field.

“I kind of knew it was an option, and the way I looked at it is any door closes, another one’s gonna open, and that’s pretty much just been my mentality about it,” Tachinski said.

“I didn’t try to be sour about being released. I really enjoyed my time there, and I enjoyed the opportunity, and I just knew I had another opportunity coming. So, I didn’t really see it as a negative; I kind of saw it as a positive. I try to keep a positive mindset, and I just wanted to keep playing football. Especially for me, I’m kind of new to receiver, so being able to just be on the field, run around, get some route running in, I think it’ll be better for me in the long term, in my football career.”

Tachinski had been sought after by national team head coach Paul LaPolice for months.

LaPolice first gauged his interest in pursuing flag football last fall, and after some encouragement from Bisons head coach Stan Pierre, Tachinski practised with the national team in San Diego, Calif., last December and again in March.

“It was my first time playing flag in probably like seven years, eight years, so I had to get refreshed back on the rules and everything, but when I went down, it was really fun, and I kind of could feel my love for flag coming back,” he said.

“I just wanted to keep playing football.”

Tachinski, who was named the Canada West conference Player of the Year in 2024, was a prolific dual-threat pivot at Manitoba, compiling the most regular season rushing yards (1,676) and rushing touchdowns (24) by a quarterback in school history, and at 6-4, 215 pounds, has the size and skillset to be a force in flag football.

He also has the experience. Before his days in pads, Tachinski made it three straight Canadian flag football championships with Team Manitoba, winning bronze twice and gold in his final year.

Playing with the national team is, in many ways, a chance to return to his roots.

“It feels good to be wanted, and (LaPolice) wanted me on the team. I think he thought my skill set would be really good for the team, and for the sport in general,” Tachinski said.

“I think it just gives me an extra vote of confidence, just when I’m out there and when I’m working with the team, I feel like I’m an important piece to the success. It really just helps me be confident in myself, and gives me some motivation.”

Tachinsksi was recently in Chula Vista, Calif., where the national team held its training camp and effectively started its pursuit for a bid in the 2028 Olympics in earnest.

Team Canada’s first chance to qualify will come at the IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany, in August, but the squad is working to get some valuable reps together before that time.

“It feels good to be wanted, and (LaPolice) wanted me on the team.”

The team travelled to Los Angeles for an exhibition contest against Team USA recently — a game that the Americans handily won 50-16, but was filled with plenty of lessons for the Canadians to learn from. Next week, they’ll play in the Senior Flag Football National Championships in Montreal.

“That was cool to play some of the cream of the crop talent in flag, and in the world,” said Tachinski. “I think that kind of changed the whole experience this time around, because the last few times we didn’t really scrimmage any national flag teams from any countries, so it’s cool just to get that experience under my belt, and kind of see the level that some of these teams are at in the world.”

Tachinski has already been tabbed as one of Canada’s starting receivers and is also being used for his arm as the No. 2 quarterback on plays where he will get the ball pitched to him and be required to throw.

“It’s a really cool role for me, just because it’s kind of a hybrid of the two, and I really think it plays to my strengths,” he said.

Tachinski is now one of two Manitobans on Team Canada’s roster, joining rusher Dominic Horvath, who was selected after last month’s national tryout.

“Dom’s a really cool guy. It’s super cool being with him on the team, and being the only Manitobans, it’s honestly a blessing,” Tachinski said.

So, too, are the prospects of representing Canada in Los Angeles in 2028.

“Just being able to represent the country, it’d be really special.”

“Obviously, we got to get a bunch of work done first, but oh yeah, I think that’s one of the main driving factors,” he said.

“I think just being able to represent the country, it’d be really special, especially growing up playing football, you’re not really thinking you’re going to be playing in the Olympics or anything, or being able to represent Canada like that, so having the opportunity would be really cool.”

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