Come next month there will be 32 candles on Eric Lofton’s birthday cake and that’s a big number in pro football.
Yet anyone who makes a living along the offensive line of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers need make only one reference to put all of that into true perspective.
“Honestly, I still feel great,” said Lofton, the Blue Bombers right tackle, in a chat with bluebombers.com. “People will always look at your age but as long as you keep getting better, you’ll be fine.
“Besides, if anyone questions my age all I have to do is say, ‘Look on the other side of our offensive line at left tackle. Stan’s almost 40 and he’s still the best tackle up here. He is what we all aspire to be.’”
Lofton put his name on contract extension with the Blue Bombers this week and the move solidifies the flanks of the club’s O-line with the aforementioned Stanley Bryant manning the left flank. Over the offseason the club also locked up veteran left guard Pat Neufeld and still has centre Chris Kolankowski, guards Tui Eli and Gabe Wallace as well as veteran Americans Kendall Randolph and Micah Vanterpool back from last season. Meanwhile, reports Tuesday had the club losing West Division all-star guard Liam Dobson to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Lofton, for his part, is thrilled to be back with the Blue Bombers after bouncing all over football’s map before finding a home. Among his stops after graduating from Temple University and working for a spell in a mortgage firm: Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Soul, Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa RedBlacks, B.C. Lions, Edmonton Elks, the Blue Bombers (first stint), Saskatchewan and back to Winnipeg.
Even through all that, there’s not a lot of miles on Lofton’s treads with just 40 CFL games played — the last 32 as a starter with the Roughriders and last year in Winnipeg.
“I’ve been a journeyman, not by choice,” said Lofton, who works in the offseason as a counsellor at Belmont Behavioral Hospital in Philadelphia. “That’s the business of professional football sometimes and it is what it is. You can’t take all the movement personally. All of us who know that’s what we signed up for when we choose to be professional football players and work in this industry.
“But since the first time I set foot in Winnipeg I said, ‘I love this place. I’ve just got to improve and hope that they love me back.’ That’s something I’m working towards. I’ve still got room to get better and that’s why I like it so much there. I just want to be constantly improving and never arriving.”
The Blue Bombers as a team, and up front, struggled to start the 2024 campaign and Lofton willingly raised his hand to accept his share of the criticism through the 0-4/2-6 opening last year. Countering that, the men up front were massive in the team’s 9-1 run to finish the regular season and surrendered just one sack in the Western Final/Grey Cup playoff games.
“The season didn’t start off the way we wanted to, and I know, looking in the mirror, I could have played a lot better,” he said. “I feel like I still have a lot to give. We were just a little off at the start while getting used to each other but eventually we started to figure it out. I’m honestly very excited to see that relationship grow.
“A big part of that is chemistry and communication. If you look at it, and to put this into perspective, before me Paddy (Neufeld) was with Jermarcus Hardrick — one of the greatest tackles to ever play in the CFL. I remember at one point during the season saying, ‘Pat, you and Jermarcus have over 100 games played together and next to each other. Me and you don’t even have 100 days yet.’ That was the main thing.
“It was about getting to understand how we both play certain situations. As the season started rolling and we got comfortable playing with each other and learning how to communicate with each other we started playing really good ball down the stretch. We’ll have the chance to improve upon that since we’re almost all coming back.”
Make no mistake, CFL free agency is always about dollars. But those who have been around and seen some things — like Lofton — will insist it’s also about comfort and fit. He’s found that here in Winnipeg.
“I love playing for Marty (Costello, offensive line coach) because he will never let you become comfortable,” said Lofton. “Every day, whether it’s practice, game, meetings, walk-throughs, he’s going to demand excellence of you. And the best thing about it is he’s a great teacher so he’s going to help you reach that level as long as you show up to work every day. I like when he’s hard on me because he just wants me to be the best possible player I can be. I think if I keep working, I feel like I can still be one of the best offensive tackles up there.
“I was energized last year. Ask anybody who has played for other teams… it’s just different when you play in Winnipeg. When you come out to warm-up and you see all those fans who support you win, lose or draw, there’s nothing like it. That’s different than anywhere else in the league.
“It’s magical. The West Final was like that. It was packed and you could just feel the electricity and the energy from the first kickoff to the last whistle. If that doesn’t make you want to play better or give it your all, there’s something wrong with you.”