Adam Bighill: From CWU to the NFL
Interview by Gabriel Strasbuagh | Intro by Theresa Daigle | Photos contributed by Adam Bighill | Design by Itzel Montoya
When you search the internet for information on Adam Bighill, statistics about his CFL career dominate the page; however, if you look a little deeper you will find more about the heart of a great man. Bighill works to create a legacy that benefits both his family and his teammates.
Born and raised in Montesano, WA, about 200 miles from CWU, Bighill encountered his first obstacle in life as a baby when he was diagnosed with a bilateral cleft lip. He has taken that experience and used it as a platform to create awareness for people with facial differences. He has also expanded his reach outside of football to include that of an investment advisor for Canada’s Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.
Bighill took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with CWU about his time both on and off the field.
What was your first goal when you made it to CWU?
The big picture was making it to the NFL and professional football, and I knew coming to Central was a stepping stone and I knew there were a lot of things I wanted to achieve there to even being in the conversation to even play at the next level professionally.
Coming in, it was to see if I could start as a true freshman, which I did. And then goals kind of arose from there of being able to be considered All-Conference to Defensive Player of the Year for the conference to being considered an All-American. That was a big one I wanted to achieve by the time I got done playing and was happy to say that I was able to do that.
What did it feel like when you got your first opportunity to play with the B.C. Lions?
It was special because it’s what I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid. When I was seven, that’s when I said I wanted to play professional football, and that was my first opportunity in 2011 to play the game I love. It was awesome and I had to start making some new goals because that was the goal I had my entire life. I couldn’t imagine anything [passing] that.
It was a crazy year. Weirdly enough it started off being the worst team I’d ever played on. Oddly enough we were 0-6 to start the year. I had never been on a team that lost six games in a season let alone six in a row. Then we won one and lost one. We were 1-7 and then we won 12 in a row to get to the playoffs and won all the way through both of the playoff games and it was special. The first championship I had ever won.
In between your championships, you are a 2x Defensive Player of the Year, so what do you take away from those accolades?
I was a guy that people thought couldn’t play college football; then I was a guy that got underlooked when it came to the potential of playing professional football.
When it came to the CFL … I was an undersized linebacker and they weren’t sure how I was going to fit in. And now looking back on it ten years ago, they are looking for the next Adam Bighill. The next body type that looks like me. Linebackers that look like me aren’t considered undersized in the CFL anymore.
It’s pretty special to come from that guy that no one knew about, to being able to be the guy to prove that anything is possible. It’s putting the hard work in and go out there and get the results you want.
Nothing happened by accident. It’s purely because I was out there to make it happen and granted, I had some great coaches and teammates along the way that have always helped me, but when it comes to making plays and doing it consistently, you know that comes from a great deal of body of work that doesn’t happen overnight.
What was it like when you got the opportunity then to go play in the NFL with New Orleans?
Coming from the CFL, you know the NFL build[s] teams through the draft, so if you don’t show up as a drafted athlete from college, nobody kind of knows who you are. You gotta go in there and prove it.
I came in as a highly decorated CFL player with nobody really knowing too much about me. The fanbase welcomed me very well and that was awesome. They took the time; they looked at the highlights of what I could do and they were fans of me right away. I was very thankful for them.
But the business of the NFL, it’s a bit more of what round you’re drafted in and what was your signing bonus that kind of helps dictate who plays and who doesn’t. Being a guy who was undrafted, a guy who had a very small signing bonus, I impressed [them] enough to stay around and play an entire season and play in Monday Night Football and go through the playoff run while playing alongside hall of famers.
The film says and shows that I can play in that league so by the time it was all said and done, the NFL experience wasn’t what I’d hoped because I firmly believe I could be a pro bowler in the NFL, I just couldn’t get the right opportunity to do so. It was a great experience. It is something I have always wanted to do as a kid, and I had a lot of fun doing it.
When you talk about the business aspect of the NFL, you turned around and signed with Winnipeg and won another championship while earning another defensive player of the year award. What was that statement like?
The results continue to speak for themselves. From a Defensive Player of the Year right into another Grey Cup. It just doesn’t get better than that. So, I think I made a great decision.
Obviously, you play because you love the game. But does the true satisfaction come when you get done with your games knowing you are providing for your family and that you get to put food on the table for your wife and kids?
You never really think about that until you have a family. Then you’re forced to think about everything you do reflects upon them good, bad or ugly and at the end of the day, yeah, you play football for the love of the game and also to provide for my family.
With having a family, it means a lot to me that I can provide for them and there’s a lot of satisfaction knowing that all the hard work I put into showcasing on the field, it’s more than myself now. It used to be about building a legacy and it definitely is, but the legacy now includes them.
You stood up for what was right at the end of the day with the Wendy Williams situation about people who have a cleft lip. Does it cross your mind that when you speak up in those instances that you are making a difference to not just yourself, but to many others?
Over my time, I realized as a professional athlete, I have a pretty good platform and everything I do, say or act on is amplified. One of the things I’ve always wanted to do is use my platform for good to help others and issues like this that come up. I'm going to tackle them head on and do the right thing on behalf of people. I’m pretty adamant on trying to make this world a better place.
Out of all the stuff you’ve accomplished in your career, what is your next goal you’ve set for yourself in your football career?
I would love to win another championship and go back-to-back. I think that’d be pretty special to cement no doubt about the team we’re on and the organization.
When you are able to step back and think at the end of the day, what do you want your legacy to say? Adam Bighill blank…?
I’d say Adam Bighill is one of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game. I’ve never done anything just to be good. I’ve always wanted to be the best. I’m so competitive that I never wanted to just be average, I never wanted to be just good.
That’s why I came up with the quote: “Outwork your competition so there is none.” I firmly believe if you put in more work and time that you should be able to be better than your opponent.
*Interview edited for clarity
