Former Montreal Alouettes star John Bowman is embarking on a new chapter in his professional career, having just been hired as the defensive line coach of the British Columbia Lions.
Excited to begin this new part of his life, Bowman intends to rely on his vast experience as a player to find success in his new role.
“As I got older and got slower and slower, I helped my teammates more. It became a natural. I feel like I figured out how to share my knowledge, which is the main job of a coach,” Bowman said Monday during a Lions-hosted videoconference.
“It will be a new challenge to be very specific in what I say [aux joueurs], but I have been teaching for a long time. I have 14 years of experience behind the tie. I don’t think there will be many patterns or games that I haven’t seen before.”
The 39-year-old also thinks being a young retiree is an advantage.
“I was in their position not too long ago,” he said of the athletes he will be supervising. I know what guys want to hear. I believe I have the vocabulary and presence to get my messages across.”
A brief discussion with the Alouettes
Officially retired since the beginning of 2021, Bowman wore the colors of the Alouettes during his entire career in the Canadian Football League, from 2006 to 2019. He is also the record holder of the lineup for the most sacks in the quarterback with 134.
The new member of the Lions revealed that he discussed with the staff of the ‘Als’ regarding his desire to become a coach.
“We spoke to each other briefly when I returned to Montreal in October, when the organization highlighted my career [pendant un match contre Roughriders de la Saskatchewan]. They are in a situation where they already have their coaching staff. So there was no room for me.”
Bowman said he doesn’t believe his former team owes him anything and that starting his coaching journey somewhere other than Montreal is probably an advantage.
“There will be less pressure, because I will not have the label of former player of the team”, expressed the one who contributed to two conquests of the Gray Cup of the Alouettes.