Brandon Bridge
{{Short description|Canadian football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Brandon Bridge
| team = Free agent
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| status =
| import = no
| position1 = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|3|21}}
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number =
| college = South Alabama
| high_school = St. Marcellinus
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 235
| CFLDraftedYear = 2015
| CFLDraftedRound = 4
| CFLDraftedPick = 31
| CFLDraftedTeam = Montreal Alouettes
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2015}}–{{CFL Year|2016}}
| playing_team1 = Montreal Alouettes
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2016}}–{{CFL Year|2018}}
| playing_team2 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2019}}*
| playing_team3 = Toronto Argonauts
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2019}}
| playing_team4 = Montreal Alouettes
| playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|2019}}
| playing_team5 = BC Lions
| career_highlights =
| statlabel1 = Pass completions
| statvalue1 = 225
| statlabel2 = Pass attempts
| statvalue2 = 344
| statlabel3 = Passing yards
| statvalue3 = 2,679
| statvalue4 = 14–10
| statlabel5 = Passer rating
| statvalue5 = 90.5
| CFL = brandon-bridge/161494
}}
Brandon Colin Bridge (born March 21, 1992), nicknamed Air Canada, is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was previously a member of the Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and BC Lions. He was drafted in the fourth round, 31st overall, by the Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft.{{cite web|url=http://lametropolesports.com/2015/05/13/quick-thoughts-on-the-montreal-alouettes-cfl-draft/ |title=Quick Thoughts On The Montreal Alouettes CFL Draft |publisher=lametropolesports.com |date=May 13, 2015 |access-date=June 28, 2015 |author=Book, Jared |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628183251/http://lametropolesports.com/2015/05/13/quick-thoughts-on-the-montreal-alouettes-cfl-draft/ |archive-date=June 28, 2015 }} He played college football at Alcorn State and South Alabama.
Early years
Bridge attended St. Marcellinus Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2014/11/03/mississaugas_brandon_bridge_has_sights_set_on_nfl.html|title=Mississauga's Brandon Bridge has sights set on NFL|date=November 3, 2014|work=thestar.com}} He finished his career with school records in touchdown passes and passing yards. Bridge was rated by Rivals.com as a two-star recruit.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/bwi/football/recruiting/player-Brandon-Bridge-88417|title=Rivals}} While attending Secondary school, he committed to Alcorn State University to play college football in the United States.
College career
=Alcorn State=
Bridge played at Alcorn State in 2010 and 2011. As a freshman, he completed 150 of 291 passes for 2,086 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also rushed for 601 yards on 120 carries with eight touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2011-09-06/bridge-proving-canadians-can-play|title=Bridge proving Canadians can play|work=NCAA.com}} In 2011, he completed 49 of 98 passes for 632 yards and five scores and rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries.
=South Alabama=
In 2012, Bridge transferred to University of South Alabama.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-alcorn-state-qb-bridge-lands-at-south-alabama/|title=Former Alcorn State QB Bridge lands at South Alabama|work=Fox News}} After sitting out 2012 due to transfer rules, he played in nine games in 2013. For the season, he completed 29 of 66 pass attempts for 398 yards and one touchdown, adding 170 yards and a touchdown on 37 carries.{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/brandon_bridge_becoming_more_c.html|title=Brandon Bridge becoming more comfortable with South Alabama's offense, role as leader for Jags|work=AL.com}} As a senior in 2014, Bridge completed 160 of 307 passes 1,927 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/02/the-waiting-is-the-hardes_n_6996550.html|title=The waiting is the hardest part for Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge|date=April 2, 2015|work=The Huffington Post}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ ! colspan="2"| General ! colspan="5"| Passing ! colspan="3"| Rushing | |||||||||
| Season | Team | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="10" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Alcorn State Braves}}"| Alcorn State Braves | |||||||||
| 2010 | Alcorn State
| 150 || 291 || 2,086 || 19 || 13 || 120 || 447 || 8 | ||||||||
| 2011 | Alcorn State
| 49 || 98 || 632 || 5 || 4 || 39 || 121 || 2 | ||||||||
| colspan="13" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| South Alabama Jaguars | |||||||||
| 2013 | South Alabama
| 29 || 66 || 398 || 1 || 2 || 37 || 170 || 1 | ||||||||
| 2014 | South Alabama
| 160 || 307 || 1,927 || 15 || 8 || 101 || 297 || 4 | ||||||||
| style="background:#eee;"
! colspan=2 | Career !! 388 !! 762 !! 5,043 !! 40 !! 27 !! 297 !! 1,035 !! 15 |
Professional career
Bridge attended the 2015 NFL combine{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1776297/brandon-bridge|title=Brandon Bridge, QB|work=CBSSports.com}} but was not selected in the 2015 NFL draft. He attended the rookie mini-camp of the Dallas Cowboys but was not signed.
=Montreal Alouettes=
He was selected by the Montreal Alouettes in the fourth round of the 2015 CFL Draft.{{cite web | url=http://www.canada.com/sports/Canadian+quarterback+Brandon+Bridge+attend+Dallas+Cowboys+rookie/11025233/story.html | title=Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge to attend Dallas Cowboys rookie mini-camp | publisher=The Canadian Press | work=Canada.com | date=May 3, 2015 | access-date=May 5, 2015 | author=Dan Ralph}} On May 25, 2015, he signed a two-year contract with Montreal.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/brandon-bridge-officially-a-montreal-alouette|title=Brandon Bridge officially a Montreal Alouette|author=CFL.ca Staff|date=May 25, 2015|work=CFL.ca|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202722/http://www.cfl.ca/article/brandon-bridge-officially-a-montreal-alouette|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}} On June 13, he played in his first game with the team, a preseason match against the Ottawa Redblacks. One of four QBs used in the game by Montreal, Bridge went 4 for 8, threw for 52 yards and a touchdown and drew praise from head coach Tom Higgins for his performance.{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/alouettes-start-pre-season-with-win-over-redblacks-1.3112830|title=Alouettes start pre-season with win over Redblacks|date=June 14, 2015|work=The Canadian Press|publisher=CBC News|access-date=June 14, 2015}}
Bridge began the 2015 season as the Al's third QB on the depth chart. He made his CFL regular season debut on June 25, 2015 (Week 1 of the 2015 season), after injuries to Jonathan Crompton and Dan LeFevour. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 62 yards and one interception. He became the first Canadian quarterback to play in a regular season CFL game since Danny Brannagan in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://cfl.ca/article/pivotal-injuries-als-lose-crompton-and-lefevour-in-opener|title=Pivotal Injuries: Als lose Crompton, LeFevour in opener|author=CFL.ca Staff|date=June 25, 2015|work=CFL.ca|access-date=June 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627075027/http://cfl.ca/article/pivotal-injuries-als-lose-crompton-and-lefevour-in-opener|archive-date=June 27, 2015|url-status=dead}} Bridge dressed as the back-up to fellow rookie, Rakeem Cato, in the following game and didn't get a chance to play until the last game of the season due to Cato's strong play and veteran players returning from injury. Bridge had his first career start on November 8, 2015 in an overtime loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 220 yards and threw the first two touchdown passes of his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2015/11/08/bridge-airs-it-out-in-first-career-start-under-centre/|title=Bridge airs it out in first career start under centre|author=CFL.ca Staff|date=November 8, 2015|work=CFL.ca}}
When Vernon Adams was signed by the Alouettes, Bridge was relegated to fourth-string status. However, with Adams and starter, Kevin Glenn, being injured, he dressed as the third-string quarterback for four of the Alouettes' first six games. He scored his first CFL touchdown during the opening week game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 24, 2016.[https://www.cfl.ca/games/2277/montreal-alouettes-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers/ ALOUETTE AIR SHOW TAKES FLIGHT IN SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER BOMBERS] With Glenn, Cato, and Adams all healthy, Bridge was asked to take a pay cut, leading to him requesting his release following the sixth game of the season.[https://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/alouettes-release-canadian-qb-brandon-bridge Alouettes release Canadian QB Brandon Bridge] On August 1, 2016, Bridge was released by the Alouettes.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2016/08/01/report-alouettes-release-national-qb-brandon-bridge/|title=REPORT: ALOUETTES RELEASE NATIONAL QB BRANDON BRIDGE|author=CFL.ca Staff|date=August 1, 2016|work=cfl.ca}}
=Saskatchewan Roughriders=
On August 8, 2016, Brandon Bridge worked out with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-bring-in-qb-bridge-for-workout-1.541887|title=Roughriders bring in QB Bridge for workout|date=2016-08-09|access-date=2016-08-09}} He officially signed with the team on August 10, 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://3downnation.com/2016/08/10/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-signs-riders|title=Canadian QB Brandon Bridge to sign with Riders|date=2016-08-10|access-date=2016-08-10}} In January 2017, the Riders traded away starting quarterback Darian Durant, moving Brandon Bridge into competition for the starting role for the 2017 CFL season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canadian-bridge-to-compete-for-roughriders-starting-position-1.649778|title=Canadian Bridge to compete for Roughriders' starting position – Article – TSN|date=2017-01-13|newspaper=TSN|access-date=2017-01-14}} However, during the off-season the Riders added CFL veteran Kevin Glenn, former NFL Pro-Bowler Vince Young and Bryan Bennett.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/roughriders-quarterback-battle-heats-saskatoon-1.4147362|title=Roughriders quarterback battle heats up in Saskatoon|work=CBC News|access-date=2017-06-07|language=en}} Both Vince Young and Bryan Bennett were released before the start of the season, leaving Bridge as the back-up quarterback behind Kevin Glenn.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-release-quarterback-young-1.782047|title=Roughriders release quarterback Young – Article – TSN|date=2017-06-17|work=TSN|access-date=2017-06-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/roughriders-cut-quarterback-bennett-1.782029|title=Roughriders cut quarterback Bennett – Article – TSN|date=2017-06-17|work=TSN|access-date=2017-06-19}} Due to an injury to Glenn, Bridge started the game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on September 15, 2017, completing 21 of 31 passes for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Roughriders won by a score of 27–19. He was the first Canadian quarterback to throw three touchdowns in a game since Greg Vavra in 1984.{{cite web | url=http://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/football-sports-pmn/cfl-football-sports-pmn/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-with-three-tds-riders-down-ticats-27-19 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240528063634/https://www.webcitation.org/6u4BciVYU?url=http://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/football-sports-pmn/cfl-football-sports-pmn/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-with-three-tds-riders-down-ticats-27-19 | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 28, 2024 | title=Canadian QB Brandon Bridge with three TDs, Riders down Ticats 27–19 | publisher=nationalpost.com | date=September 15, 2017 | access-date=October 8, 2017}} In the off-season the Roughriders acquired quarterback Zach Collaros, relegating Bridge to a backup role alongside David Watford.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/01/03/riders-acquire-zach-collaros-ticats/|title=Riders acquire Zach Collaros from Ticats – CFL.ca|date=2018-01-03|work=CFL.ca|access-date=2018-11-12|language=en-US}} Bridge started four regular season games in 2018, and also started the Western Semi-Final playoff game, becoming the first Canadian quarterback to start a playoff game since Gerry Dattilio did so in 1984.{{Cite news|url=https://theprovince.com/pmn/sports-pmn/football-sports-pmn/cfl-football-sports-pmn/harris-blue-bombers-advance-to-west-final-with-victory-over-roughriders/wcm/0477de2e-77b6-41de-b4b1-dc82d9fd0e17|title=Harris, Blue Bombers advance to West final with victory over Roughriders|date=2018-11-12|work=The Province|access-date=2018-11-12|language=en-US}} Bridge was unable to lead the Riders to victory, falling 23–18 to Winnipeg, ending their season. He became a free agent on February 12, 2019.
=Toronto Argonauts=
On February 24, 2019, the Toronto Argonauts announced that they had signed Bridge to a contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/02/24/argos-sign-canadian-qb-brandon-bridge/|title=Argos sign Canadian QB Brandon Bridge|date=February 24, 2019|work=cfl.ca|access-date=February 24, 2019|language=en-US}} The contract is reportedly for one year.{{Cite news|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/02/23/canadian-qb-brandon-bridge-to-sign-with-toronto-argos/|title=Canadian QB Brandon Bridge to sign with Toronto Argos|date=February 23, 2019|work=3downnation.com|access-date=February 24, 2019|language=en-US}} Bridge was competing with fellow quarterbacks James Franklin, Mcleod Bethel Thompson, Michael O’Connor and Dakota Prukop for a roster spot. He was released by the Argos on June 8, 2019 after the conclusion of the preseason.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-argonauts-release-canadian-quarterback-brandon-bridge-1.1319131|title=Toronto Argonauts release Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge – TSN.ca|author=TSN ca Staff|date=2019-06-08|website=TSN|access-date=2019-06-09}}
=Montreal Alouettes (II)=
Bridge was signed by the Montreal Alouettes on June 22, 2019 following an injury to starting quarterback Antonio Pipkin during their first game of the season. On July 31, 2019 Bridge was released from the Alouettes roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/06/21/report-alouettes-sign-brandon-bridge-one-year-deal/|title=Report: Alouettes sign Brandon Bridge to one-year deal|date=2019-06-21|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-06-23}}{{cite news|url=https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2019/06/22/canadian-quarterback-brandon-bridge-back-alouettes/|title=Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge back with the Alouettes|date=June 22, 2019}}
=BC Lions=
Nearing the end of the 2019 season, BC Lions starting quarterback Mike Reilly suffered what was reported to be a broken wrist which prompted the Lions to sign Bridge to a contract on October 14, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/10/14/lions-sign-qb-brandon-bridge/|title=Report: Canadian QB Bridge signs with Lions|date=2019-10-14|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-10-15}} In the season finale against the Calgary Stampeders, Bridge came in after halftime and ignited the Lions offense, nearly leading the team to a comeback but coming up short in a 21–16 loss. In his only action for 2019, Bridge completed 14 out of 22 passes for 194 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in one half of work.{{Cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/stampeders-21-lions-16-and-theyve-played-out-the-season|title=Report: Stampeders 21, Lions 16: Lions' season officially Stamped out|date=2019-11-02|website=The Province|language=en|access-date=2019-11-02}}
Career statistics
| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" width="65%" style="text-align:center" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="2" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="9" | Passing ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Rushing |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! {{Tooltip|GA|Games active}} ! {{Tooltip|GS|Games started}} ! {{Tooltip|Comp|Passes completed}} ! {{Tooltip|Att|Passes attempted}} ! {{Tooltip|Pct|Completion percentage}} ! {{Tooltip|Yards|Passing yards}} ! {{Tooltip|TD|Touchdowns thrown}} ! {{Tooltip|Int|Interceptions thrown}} ! {{Tooltip|Rating|Quarterback rating}} ! {{Tooltip|Att|Carries attempted}} ! {{Tooltip|Yards|Total rushing yards}} ! {{Tooltip|Avg|Rushing average}} ! {{Tooltip|Long|Longest rush}} ! {{Tooltip|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} |
| ALIGN="center"
| 2015 | MTL | 11 | 1 | 26 | 40 | 65.0 | 282 | 2 | 1 | 91.9 | 18 | 59 | 3.3 | 22 | 0 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
|rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 2016 | MTL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 2 | 0.7 | 1 | 2 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| SSK | 12 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 84.6 | 163 | 0 | 0 | 124.8 | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 16 | 1 |
| ALIGN="center"
| 2017 | SSK | 18 | 1 | 92 | 138 | 66.7 | 1,236 | 10 | 4 | 107.0 | 20 | 127 | 6.4 | 17 | 1 |
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
|2018 |SSK |18 |4 |82 |131 |62.6 |804 |1 |3 |72.8 |25 |110 |4.6 |16 |0 |
| ALIGN="center"
|rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" | 2019 | MTL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| BC
| 2 | 0 | 14 | 22 | 63.6 | 194 | 1 | 2 | 69.1 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="2" |CFL totals ! 69 ! 6 ! 225 ! 344 ! 65.4 ! 2,679 ! 14 ! 10 ! 90.5 ! 71 ! 325 ! 4.6 ! 22 ! 4 |
Legacy
While leaving open the possibility of a return in the future, Bridge chose to enter law enforcement following the 2019 CFL season, having not received an offer he found satisfactory to continue his playing career. Bridge set several milestones during his career; he was the first Canadian quarterback to see the field in 5 years when he started playing in 2015, his 3 touchdown passes in one game during 2016 were the first time that mark had been achieved by a Canadian pivot since 1984, and his 2018 playoff start was the first by a Canadian passer in 34 years. Throughout his career, Bridge expressed the desire to, "open up doors for the younger generation who are Canadians who want to play quarterback."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/article-canadian-quarterback-brandon-bridge-pursuing-career-in-police-work/|title=Canadian quarterback Brandon Bridge pursuing career in police work|date=2020-03-06|website=theglobeandmail.com|language=en|access-date=2020-09-12}} Bridge met with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie to advocate for Canadian passers to be included in the team ratio, which was incorporated into the 2020 collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/03/14/brandon-bridge-its-been-over-100-years-in-this-league-and-they-did-not-respect-a-canadian-qb/|title=Brandon Bridge: it's been over 100 years in this league and they did not respect a Canadian QB|date=2020-03-14|website=3downnation.com|language=en|access-date=2020-09-12}} Former teammate Michael O'Connor acknowledged Bridge's impact for Canadian pivots like himself; "He moved the position forward and I owe a lot to him, but I’m looking to take that next step for us."{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/03/08/michael-oconnor-wants-to-show-the-whole-cfl-a-canadian-quarterback-can-play-with-the-best/|title=Michael O'Connor wants to show the whole CFL a Canadian quarterback can play with the best|date=2020-03-08|website=3downnation.com|language=en|access-date=2020-09-12}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.bclions.com/players/brandon-bridge/161494/ BC Lions bio]
- [http://usajaguars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5836 South Alabama Jaguars bio]
{{South Alabama Jaguars quarterback navbox}}
{{Montreal Alouettes starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders starting quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridge, Brandon}}
Category:Canadian football people from Toronto
Category:Players of Canadian football from Ontario
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Alcorn State Braves football players
Category:South Alabama Jaguars football players
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks
Category:Montreal Alouettes players
Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players