Legendary CFL Head Coach Dave Ritchie Dead at Age 85

Former Grey Cup champion head coach Dave Ritchie passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday.

The CFL world took a big hit with the loss of former CFL head coach Dave Ritchie. It was announced Saturday that Ritchie had passed away at the age of 85.

Multiple teams and CFL personnel took to social media over the weekend to offer their condolences to Ritchie’s family and friends.

“Dave was an incredible leader of men, a brilliant football mind and a truly inspiring human being. We are all fortunate to have met him and to have learned from him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him.”

- CFL commissioner 

Randy Ambrosie

“Dave Ritchie was a respected leader during his days as Blue Bombers head coach and in his other coaching positions across the Canadian Football League, in the NCAA and in Europe. He had a passion for his players and his teams and led both to great success. The Winnipeg Football Club offers our deepest sympathies to his wife Sharon, Dave’s family, and his many friends.”

- Wade Miller, Blue Bombers president & CEO

“Coach Ritchie was a champion at heart who represented the BC Lions with the utmost class and professionalism. Anyone who had the good fortune to work with him was better for it. He will be dearly missed by everyone across the Canadian Football League,”

- Neil McEvoy, BC Lions co-general manager and director of football operations

Ritchie coached for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes during his CFL career. He won 108 games, the seventh-most in league history, and led the Lions to a Grey Cup championship in 1994. Ritchie was also on staff for the Blue Bombers' 1990 championship victory, and for the Lions' win in 2006.

The Canadian Football League lost a legendary presence on Saturday with the passing of Hall of Fame coach Dave Ritchie.

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— CFL (@CFL) March 11, 2024

What made Ritchie special as a head coach was the quick turnarounds he made with teams, like when he transformed the Lions from the three-win team he inherited into Grey Cup champs. Winnipeg improved from a three-win team in 1998 to finishing 14-4 in 2001 under Ritchie's watch.

After his career, he was named into the BC Lions’ Wall of Fame and the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

He cemented himself as one of the most influential and successful head coaches in CFL history.

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