Familiar territory, new position

Jackson Tachinski knows a thing or two about tossing touchdowns at Princess Auto Stadium.

The former Manitoba Bisons quarterback is now hoping he can be on the receiving end of a few as a professional.

On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed the local product with the intention of using him as a wide receiver.

He was in training camp with the Edmonton Elks last year as a freshly converted pass catcher, then signed by them in December after his final U Sports season. The Elks cut him last week, making the Winnipegger available for hire.

“It’s really cool to be here. Hometown team, hometown stadium, played university here. I know a lot of guys in the locker-room, got to play with some of those guys. So just a blessing. Really happy to be here,” said Tachinski after Tuesday’s training camp session.

“Obviously it sucks to get cut. Nobody really wants to be released like that. But at the end of the day you’ve got to have a positive outlook on it. And I just saw it as a door closing but another one’s going to open. So I’m happy this one opened and happy to be here.”

If anyone can switch positions this late in the game, it very well could be Tachinski.

He was recruited by the U of M to play both football and basketball before becoming a three-year starter at pivot. The six-foot-four, 215-pounder out of Vincent Massey Collegiate was a dual-threat passer — totalling 6,190 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 21 interceptions to go along with 1,867 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground.

He was named the Canada West Player of the Year in 2024.

Despite all the success, CFL talent evaluators weren’t convinced he could make it at the next level with his arm. He was asked to run some routes at the combine and managed to make a few plays in one-on-one drills.

“So I switched last training camp, around this time. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable this year. I had a whole off-season at receiver, so I feel a lot better,” said Tachinski, who went undrafted.

“Obviously not every quarterback wants to hear that. But for me I try to put my ego aside. These coaches want the best for you. They have the best things in mind. So if people are telling you maybe do this, maybe do that, and I respect all these coaches. I think they’re really smart. So I just believed in them and I took a shot.”

There’s no need for the 24-year-old to introduce himself to Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

He was teammates with his son, Michael Jr., at the U of M and has attended training camp with the Bombers in the past as part of the CFL quarterback internship program.

“He’s a helluva athlete. We get the benefit of knowing him personally and having him in here before. He’s a great add,” said O’Shea.

“He’s been working at receiver and obviously he can still sling the ball, too. He gives you a couple different things you can look at. It’s great to have him in here. He’s a great kid, too, and a hard-working guy.”

He could end up being a future Olympian, too, as Tachinski’s skill set has Canada’s flag football head coach Paul LaPolice intrigued.

The former Bombers head coach/offensive co-ordinator invited him to a national team camp held in Winnipeg earlier this month.

But for now, the focus is entirely on making it as a Bomber.

“I want to be out here whether I’m playing quarterback or receiver or running back — I’ll literally do whatever the coaches want,” he said.

“Because I love being part of this atmosphere, being part of a football locker-room and working with those coaches, it’s a different feeling than, I can’t really describe it. It’s a different feeling that people wouldn’t know about. And I just want to be part of that.”

The Bombers also signed receiver Kolby Hurford out of Alberta and Bisons defensive tackle Kaleb Mackie-McLeod on Tuesday.

Hurford was drafted in the seventh round by Edmonton in 2025. Mackie-McLeod recorded 90 total tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles in four seasons with the Herd before going undrafted.

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