My single interaction with Henoc Muamba lasted roughly the length of one football play.
It was CFL Week, 2017, and reporters of various descriptions and affiliations had convened a few first downs away from Mosaic Stadium for what was informally known as a “car wash.”
Prominent players bounced from one media outlet to the other. My Regina Leader-Post colleague, Murray McCormick, had requested an interview with Muamba, who was then preparing for his first full season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after signing with the team the previous October.
My function was, to put it charitably, non-essential. The best description might be “getting in the way.” It’s an art.
Anyway, Muamba arrived at the L-P’s station, whereupon Murray was kind enough to introduce me to the veteran middle linebacker.
In the time it took to shake hands, I concluded that Muamba had lived up to his reputation as one of the nicest people ever to wear cleats.
I remember a warm smile and a correspondingly congenial demeanour.
Very few people can leave such an overwhelmingly positive first impression in such a short time.
In recent days, the 35-year-old Muamba has received a steady stream of plaudits, from people who know him infinitely better than yours truly.
After he took to social media to announce his retirement as a player, the messages of appreciation dominated my timeline on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
- “One of the best leaders I’ve ever been around.” — Vernon Adams Jr., B.C. Lions.
- “A champ, forever. Congratulations to Henoc Muamba on his retirement.” — CFL.
- “I recall watching Henoc Muamba test during his CFL combine and thinking … wow. Great career, great for the league and proud to have covered him. Congratulations.” — Dave Naylor, TSN.
- “Hall of Fame career. Hall of Fame human.” — Chris Balenovich, Media Relations Manager, Toronto Argonauts.
- “Terrific career. Two stints in Montreal. Always productive and a key piece of the defence AND the community.” — Joey Alfieri, Reporter, Content Creator, Social Media Manager, Montreal Alouettes.
As well, an assortment of fans weighed in with their sentiments, often posting a selfie that included Muamba.
Their interactions with him were likely abbreviated, as was mine, but time was not a factor. Even if you spent just a few seconds with him, as did I, he left a lasting impression.
Hence the “Nice people who deserve a plug” mention he received in my column shortly after CFL Week.
Also in 2017, he was named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Canadian after registering a team-high 82 defensive tackles and helping the Green and White post a 10-8 record.
After a two-year absence, the Roughriders returned to the playoffs — as a cross-over participant — and nearly advanced to the Grey Cup.
In the East Division final, Muamba registered a game-high 10 defensive tackles in a 25-21 loss to Toronto at BMO Field. The Argonauts scored the winning touchdown with just 23 seconds left.
Muamba was in an Argonauts uniform when he finally got a chance to play in a Grey Cup.
He seized the opportunity, making a key fourth-quarter interception to help Toronto edge the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 24-23 at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 20, 2022.
There was even more to celebrate, as he was
named the game’s MVP and top Canadian.
At the time, nobody could have suspected that it would be his final game.
He re-signed with the Argonauts in February of 2023, only to suffer a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire season.
Although the circumstances were unfortunate, they did allow for what turned out to be a storybook conclusion to a sterling career — a Grey Cup win that was punctuated by two awards.
The signoff evoked reminders of the previous Saskatchewan-based Grey Cup Game, in which the Roughriders’ Geroy Simon caught two touchdown passes in a 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Nov. 24, 2013.
Simon retired the following June, as the proud owner of 16,352 receiving yards — still the most in CFL history.
How often does a player enjoy a final game of the storybook variety?
There are other examples, but not many — pro football being a rather unforgiving game.
Russ Jackson (Ottawa Rough Riders, 1969), Angelo Mosca (Hamilton, 1972) and Lui Passaglia (B.C. Lions, 2000) are among the players who, like Muamba and Simon, won it all in their final game.
There is also the case example of Ron Lancaster who, in his last game, authored a patented comeback victory as the Roughriders won 36-26 in Edmonton to conclude an otherwise disappointing 1978 season.
In the fourth quarter, Lancaster came off the bench — his heir apparent, Larry Dick, had been the starter that day — and threw one final touchdown pass (to Joey Walters) before scoring on a one-yard quarterback sneak.
A perfect punctuation mark was applied when Roughriders defensive lineman Bill Baker, also playing in his final CFL game, sacked rookie quarterback Warren Moon for a safety touch that doubled as a finishing touch.
Muamba, like Baker, was a Canadian player who excelled at a position that is often occupied by an American.
It is a given that Muamba will eventually join Baker in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
When the inevitable induction occurs, the tribute video will, of course, include his interception in the 2022 Grey Cup game. Mention will be made of the two awards he won as a post-script. And the video could very well be shown of a priceless moment.
After what would become Muamba’s final game, he sat before the media at Mosaic Stadium, accompanied by his daughter, Thea. Also conspicuous were the trophies Muamba had just received for being named the game’s MVP and top Canadian.
Soaking it all in, he sat back and said: “Still trying to figure out if this is real life.”
Real life, post-football, is just beginning for Henoc Muamba.
Although he has yet to reveal his plans for the next chapter, it can be declared without any uncertainty that many more successes await a genuine gridiron great.
