Built by Sacrifice, Fueled by Family: Ryan Hunter Poised for Another Dominant CFL Season

Ryan Hunter heads into this upcoming CFL season with expectations at an all-time high. Going into the new campaign the North Bay native has a newly signed contract awaiting him, a devoted wife and young daughter at home watching his every move, and his Toronto Argonauts are defending champions.

Every athlete knows the tolls along the road to success, but Hunter and his family could not have imagined what would be accomplished by the decorated offensive lineman.

Or could they have.

“Ryan is so motivated, I was actually going through some of his schoolwork and when he was in grade four, I found one of his little class booklets that he said he wanted to be a professional athlete,” said Louise Hunter, the mother of Ryan, when speaking about her son.

A lot has changed for the Argos star player since. Hunter brought home the Most Outstanding Lineman of the Year award, the second year in a row it had been won by the defending Grey Cup champions. The versatile lineman saw time at left guard and left tackle throughout the campaign and was paired with the 2023 winner of the award Dejon Allen. The offence bookended by these two stars averaged the most points per game and the second most rushing yards in 2024. These stats and accolades did not go unnoticed as Hunter walked away with a massive contract extension that makes him the highest paid Canadian in the CFL. Expectations are high and the fourth-year player is up for the challenge.

“Our profession everything is public, so everyone knows if I’m not performing.  So, I need to really come in each and every week, each and every game, each and every season in the best shape I've ever been, the most mentally focused, the most physically focused, to be able to give a hundred percent to my teammates and to my coaches every week.”

Hunter plays one of the most physically demanding positions on the football field and puts it all on the line every play to help his team succeed. He keeps a very modest attitude despite all the accolades and his competitive personality. So how did a kid from North Bay live out his dreams and conquer the biggest achievements in professional football on both sides of the border?

The Bowling Green alum left home at 16 years old to pursue his dream of playing football professionally, moving from his home in Thunder Bay south to Canisius Catholic High School in Buffalo. His mother, Louise, was adamant that the 6’3 lineman would be staying in Canada and going the USports route with many Canadian Universities very interested in Hunter as early as the ninth grade. It was an extremely difficult moment when Louise realized her son was not going to stay in Canada, but to this day she does not regret the decision for letting her son go and pursue his dream.

“I was teary, his eyes were full of water too. And he said, ‘if there's nothing in life, I ever ask you again, can you please say yes and let me do this,’ and I just couldn't say no to him, I could not say no to my boy.”

Ryan flourished in the States, but there were still obstacles being just 16 years old and leaving a place where his mother did everything for him. Moving in with a family that had four kids already, Hunter knew he had to take on some more individual responsibility and could not rely on his mother to make him lunches or do his laundry anymore.

“It really helped me, I think, prepare for university a lot easier than some kids who came from home to university because of having to kind of fend for myself for two years, where I had more chores and responsibilities than previously.”

Hunter credits his family a lot for the sacrifices they made to help him get to where he is now. The recently turned 30-year-old has a strong relationship with his family and especially his mother who has always been there throughout his journey. Sacrificing a second income, Louise stayed home to raise her two young boys and was always present at important milestones in her son’s lives.

“No regrets for any of the sacrifices, as a mum, that I've had to give up for my kids. They come first.”

Ryan has the same mentality when it comes to his own child, daughter, Meredith.

“I don't want to miss any of my kids' stuff, whether it be, national titles, sporting events, tournaments, my parents were there for all my stuff.  I think that's something that's important for me to be a part of as well.”

The journey from young athlete in North Bay to rising star in Buffalo to undrafted rookie in Kansas City to Super Bowl Champion with the Chiefs to two-time Grey Cup winner and Most Outstanding Lineman in Toronto to proud father in Cincinnati. Hunter has had many stops during his career and has much more to look forward to in his life. Through all the sacrifices, the Argos star has stuck to one idea, not a quote, or a specific piece of advice.

“I would say just believe and have a plan. I was pursuing my dream. You know, football to me was what I wanted to do, so I was willing to do whatever it took to get to that point.”