“I have a lot of people to thank”: Nick Wiebe savours strong start to second season

Nick Wiebe was a premier performer in a victorious effort as his loved ones cheered from the stands at Mosaic Stadium.

Then it got even better.

Wiebe, a second-year member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, received a game ball — rewarding excellence on special teams — after a 37-18 conquest of the B.C. Lions on June 28.

“It was a pretty cool feeling,” the former University of Saskatchewan Huskies star linebacker reflected on Monday, when the Roughriders returned to the practice field following a bye week.

“With the trials and tribulations of last year that kind of led up to this, it made it a little bit sweeter.”

After being selected in the second round (12th overall) of the 2024 CFL Draft, Wiebe missed the first 12 games of his rookie season while recovering from a knee injury he sustained in the 2023 Canada West playoffs.

Alas, the knee issue resurfaced and forced Wiebe to undergo season-ending surgery.

Making up for lost time, Wiebe has five special teams tackles — a total that ties him with Aubrey Miller Jr. for the team lead — for an undefeated Roughriders team.

Two of those tackles were recorded in the B.C. game. Hence the presentation of a game ball amid the jubilation in the locker room.

“It’s insane,” Wiebe said. “You go up there and you really don’t know what you’re going to say.

“I just went up there and told my teammates I loved them. That’s why we fight through injuries and why we play football. That’s kind of the message I try to bring forth.

“It was super cool.”

As a bonus, Wiebe was not asked to dance in front of his teammates and coaches.

“They know that I don’t have any rhythm,” he said with a laugh. “They didn’t want to see two left feet up there doing something.

“They know as well as I do that it would hurt everyone’s eyes, so we decided to keep that out of it.”

One more reason to celebrate: The Roughriders carry a 4-0 record into Friday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

“The wins are that much sweeter when you’re out there grinding with your buddies,” Wiebe said. “It’s unbelievable, especially kind of just comparing it to last year and all that led up to this.

“Honestly, this is some of the most fun I’ve ever had playing football, so this has been awesome.”

The same description applies to Wiebe’s performance — termed “incredible” by Head Coach Corey Mace — early in the 2025 campaign.

“With his season last year, you just wanted to see him get his opportunity to go out there and really prove to be the player that everybody expected him to be, and he’s that,” Mace said.

“He has been a monster on special teams. He has big value for us. We put him in important roles and he has championed that.

“I’m super pleased for the kid. I know he’s got crazy support from his family, so they’re all cheering.”

Nobody cheers louder, more frequently or in more venues than Rob and Diane Wiebe.

“I don’t think my dad has missed a game of mine since I was nine or something,” said Nick Wiebe, whose proud parents reside in Okotoks, Alta. “He’s been at all of them.

“He’s been a constant sign of stability for me throughout my entire football career. He’s a big reason why I’m back playing after a pretty traumatic injury.”

Wiebe’s extended family also helped immeasurably during his rehabilitation.

“The guys in the locker room were always checking in on me, making sure my mental health was OK,” the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder said. “The mental part of the injury is really the hardest part.

“The coaches, the guys (on the team) and my family, they were all such rocks for me. Putting in the physical work was easy when I had so much mental and emotional stability around me.

“I have a lot of people to thank.”