Retired NFLer Idonije honoured by CW
Manitoba Bisons star enters CW Hall of Fame after making big impact on and off the field
EDMONTON – One of the University of Manitoba's most famous alums, Israel Idonije has entered the Canada West Hall of Fame.
Idonije, who starred on the gridiron for the Bisons between 1998 and 2002, was inducted Tuesday, as the conference continues to commemorate the 100th anniversary of university sport in Western Canada.
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria and raised in Brandon, Man., Idonije joined the Bisons with just one season of football under his belt before eventually blossoming into an NFLer.
Idonije played a decade in the NFL, spending nine seasons in Chicago (2004-2012) before finishing his playing career with Detroit in 2013.
While he made an impact on the field playing 149 career games, his lasting legacy comes off the field through his charitable work, which has helped communities in Winnipeg, Chicago and West Africa.
To read more about Idonije's outstanding career, click here.
ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME
For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life.
To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019, with the first induction class set to be unveiled throughout the 2019-20 season.
VISIT: CanadaWestHallofFame.org