"Fall down seven times, get up eight."
That was a quote on social media posted by Toronto Argonauts lineman Ryan Hunter as his squad prepared for the Grey Cup in Regina on Sunday night.
Hunter's Toronto Argonauts defeated the reigning champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 to win the 109th Grey Cup as the Argos won a record 18th Grey Cup.
The Argos were down and many felt out but they battled back in the fourth to take the lead and held onto it.
See related: Is North Bay torn over who to cheer for in the Grey Cup?
The victory spoils a potential three-peat for North Bay's Mike O'Shea, who is the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the 2022 CFL coach of the year.
For Ryan Hunter, he becomes part of some very select company becoming one of a dozen players who have won a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl.
"Congrats to Ryan Hunter, Super Bowl Champion and now Grey Cup Champion! We are proud of you," Ecole Secondaire Algonquin, his old high school stated via social media after the game.
Hunter was the Argos' first-round pick, ninth overall, in the 2018 CFL Draft. He joined the Argonauts in September of 2022 from the NFL.
The Algonquin Barons alum signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in October 2020 and had been on the team’s practice roster until the squad released Hunter in late August.
Hunter dressed for three career NFL games, and aside from his time with the Chargers, he spent two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs winning a Super Bowl in early 2020.
Ironically, back in 2004 it was Mike O'Shea who won the Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts and that year he brought the Grey Cup to North Bay to share it with his hometown.
Could Ryan Hunter possibly do the same 18 years later?
