Ottawa sports fans love a good comeback story, and this week the rumour mill is spinning around one of the city's most recognizable football figures: Jeff Hunt.
The 62-year-old, a transplanted Newfoundlander who's become as much a fixture of the capital's sports scene as the Rideau Canal is of its winters, has been out of the game since last November, when he led Atletico Ottawa to the CPL playoff title. Now, with speculation swirling about the Redblacks' front office, the question on a lot of local fans' minds is simple: could Hunt be headed back to Ottawa football in a bigger way?
A Familiar Face in Ottawa Sports
Hunt isn't new to this city's sports landscape. He's spent years building and shaping Ottawa franchises, and his run with Atletico Ottawa cemented his reputation as someone who knows how to build a winner from the ground up. For a fanbase that's watched the Redblacks cycle through ups and downs since their 2014 debut, a familiar, proven name carries weight.
Why the Price Could Be Right
According to the Ottawa Citizen, the appeal here isn't just about Hunt's track record — it's about value. Having been out of sports since last fall, Hunt is available, and reportedly at a price that could make sense for an organization looking to make a smart front-office move without breaking the bank. In a league where big splashy hires don't always pay off, a cost-effective addition with a proven résumé is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-upside move Ottawa sports fans have been hoping to see.
What It Would Mean for the Redblacks
Bringing Hunt back into the mix — even in some advisory or executive capacity — would send a signal to Ottawa's football faithful that the organization is serious about building sustainable success. The Redblacks have had their share of rebuilding seasons, and fans who packed TD Place during the team's early Grey Cup runs are hungry to see that kind of momentum again.
Hunt's CPL title with Atletico Ottawa last season proved he still has the touch when it comes to putting winning organizations together in this city. Whether that translates into a formal role with the Redblacks remains to be seen, but the fact that his name is even being floated is enough to get local sports talk radio lit up this week.
The Bigger Picture for Ottawa Sports
Ottawa's sports scene has been on something of an upswing lately, from Atletico's championship run to renewed energy around the Senators and 67s. Adding a recognizable, successful figure like Hunt to the Redblacks' orbit would fit neatly into that broader narrative of a city building real momentum across its pro and semi-pro teams.
For now, it's speculation — but it's the kind of speculation that gets Ottawa football fans talking, and that alone says something about how much people in this city still care about where the Redblacks go from here.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
