By John Hodge
There were plenty of curling fans thrilled to see Brad Jacobs and his team win the recent Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, but none are likely more famous than Bo Levi Mitchell.
The star quarterback of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who just led the Canadian Football League in passing touchdowns for the fourth time in his 14-year career, is a longtime friend of lead Ben Hebert. The two athletes lived in the same Calgary suburb for years when Mitchell played for the Stampeders, where they trained and played golf together before eventually launching their own podcast.
Curling wasn’t a natural fit for Mitchell, a lifelong football player born and raised in Texas. Regardless, he’s grown to love the sport and can’t wait to tune in to see Hebert and his teammates compete in Italy.
“I definitely will be watching (the curling at the Olympics)," Mitchell said. “I hit (Hebert) up right away (when Team Jacobs won the Olympic Trials). … It’s just awesome to see him succeed. He's just such a good dude and a good friend.”
Hebert is no stranger to football, having previously been a member of the Regina Thunder of the Canadian Junior Football League. The Regina native still cheers for his hometown Saskatchewan Roughriders, a West Division rival of Mitchell’s longtime team in Calgary.
Hebert even tried to convince Mitchell to sign with the Roughriders when he left the Stampeders after the 2022 season, though the veteran passer ultimately signed a three-year contract with Hamilton.
“Even though I've been away from Calgary now for three years, (Hebert) messages me after every game,” Mitchell said. “When I do a boneheaded mistake like throw a pick or something, he loves to rip me for it, so it’s awesome to see the success for him.”
Mitchell signed a two-year contract extension with the Tiger-Cats this week, tying him to the team through 2027 when he’ll be 37 years of age.
The six-foot-one, 210-pound passer has already punched his ticket to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame — he’s thrown for over 40,000 yards, won two Grey Cups, and two Most Outstanding Player awards — and has previously floated the possibility of retirement.
Hebert did the same in the immediate aftermath of the Olympic Trials victory, suggesting that the win means he’ll have to play at least one more year. The 42-year-old has a stacked resumé of his own, having won five Briers, two world championships, and an Olympic gold medal.
For now, the friends are simply two veterans still at the top of their respective games.
“I'm sure he probably thinks the same way I do of (possibly retiring) year-to-year,” Mitchell said. “(I’m) glad to see him towards the end of his career be able to go out there and compete for the big one.”
All curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place at Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The men’s round-robin will begin on Feb. 11 and conclude ahead of the semifinals on Feb. 19. The bronze medal game will take place on Feb. 20, and the gold medal game will be played on Feb. 21.
Don’t forget to tune in. Mitchell will be.
