Brad Sinopoli
A quarterback turned wide receiver who redefined his career to become one of the most dominant Canadian players of his era.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Canadian football wide receiver·Birthday: April 14·Millennials
Biography
Brad Sinopoli's football journey is a story of radical reinvention. Drafted by the Calgary Stampeders as a quarterback out of the University of Ottawa, his early professional years were spent holding a clipboard. In 2013, the Stampeders made a pivotal decision, converting the 6'4" athlete to wide receiver. It proved to be a masterstroke. Claimed by the expansion Ottawa Redblacks, Sinopoli blossomed into a pass-catching machine, using his quarterback's understanding of defenses to find soft spots in coverage. He became the reliable, sure-handed target for Henry Burris, a cornerstone of Ottawa's rapid rise from new team to champion. His peak season in 2018 saw him catch 116 passes, a record for a Canadian receiver, cementing his status not just as a good national player, but as one of the league's very best, period. His career, bookended by Grey Cup wins in Calgary and Ottawa, demonstrated the profound value of adaptability and intellect on the field.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brad was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Brad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set a CFL single-season record for receptions by a Canadian player with 116 catches in 2018.
- Won the Grey Cup with two different franchises: the Calgary Stampeders (2014) and the Ottawa Redblacks (2016).
- Named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian player twice, in 2015 and 2018.
- Earned a CFL All-Star nod in 2018 and was a three-time East Division All-Star.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 CFL Draft as a quarterback.
In college at the University of Ottawa, he won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in Canadian university football in 2010.
He was named the Most Valuable Canadian in the 104th Grey Cup, which his Ottawa Redblacks won.
His 116-reception season in 2018 was also the fourth-highest total by any player in the league that year.
“I had to learn how to run routes and catch from scratch.”
