On Wednesday, Edmonton Elks wide receiver Adarius Bowman retired as a member of the Edmonton Elks, ending an 11-year career in the CFL.
Adarius Bowman returned to the CFL after initially retiring during the 2019 CFL season when he played for the Montreal Alouettes.
I’m honored and grateful to be able to retire with the EE,” said Bowman. “I’m thankful for the opportunities the country of Canada and the city of Edmonton gave to a young kid who grew into a man. To all my teammates, coaches, and the entire staff in Edmonton, thank y’all for some of the best moments in my life.”
Bowman played 88 games in seven seasons with the Eskimos (2011-17), catching 485 passes for 7,050 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 carries for 71 yards. He helped the Elks, then the Eskimos, winning the 2015 Grey Cup.
He also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2009-10, 2018), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2008), and Montreal Alouettes (2019). He caught 652 passes for 9,491 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 14 carries for 81 yards in 141 career games.
Bowman was a three-time CFL West All-Star (2014-16) and three-time CFL All-Star (2014-16). In 2017, he won the Tom Pate Memorial Award winner for a player with outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team, his community, and Association. Bowman started the Adarius 4 Autism Foundation to raise awareness for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
In college, Bowman played 18 games in two seasons (2003-04) at North Carolina with 28 catches for 51 yards and five touchdowns.
He transferred to Oklahoma State in 2005 but had to sit a year due to NCAA rules. In two seasons at Oklahoma State (2006-07), he caught 127 passes for 2,187 yards and 20 touchdowns in 24 games. In 2006, he was named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
“I first met Adarius when he was playing high school ball in Chattanooga, Tennessee, so I’ve known him for a long time and was lucky enough to see him develop into a terrific football player, said Elks head coach Chris Jones. “He’s one of the best receivers in franchise history and was a big part of our 2015 Grey Cup win. I’m happy he could retire here in Edmonton, where he belongs.”
