Chris Walby, an offensive tackle who wore the blue and gold of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for 16 seasons, was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in September of 2003. This year, ‘the Big Man’ suits up for his seventh season as the analyst for THE CFL ON CBC after serving as a guest analyst during CBC’s playoff coverage in 1996.

In 2003, he hosted a new feature - CBC Playbook - that makes the intricate plays look easy when Walby and a youth team from Winnipeg break down common plays that are run throughout a typical CFL game.

Born in Winnipeg, Walby played college ball at Dickinson State. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes in 1981 and acquired by the Blue Bombers at the midway point of his first season. During his first game back at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Walby recovered a fumble and returned it for the only touchdown of his career.

He played the rest of his career in Winnipeg, won the Grey Cup three times and was named to the all-star team 11 times. He was twice named the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman. Walby was known for his leadership skills both on and off the field. He is in ninth place in CFL history for the most games played - 254.

In 1995, Walby entered the political arena when he joined the Liberal Party of Manitoba, but was unsuccessful in his attempt to defeat the incumbent in his riding.

Walby and his three sons live in Winnipeg where he works in the pharmaceutical business as a sales representative.