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Winnipeg Blue Bombers Defensive Line and Assistant Head Coach Richard Harris passed away Tuesday afternoon after suffering a massive heart attack.

“This has struck our entire organization from the top down,” said Blue Bomber President Jim Bell. “We are all in a state of shock and first and foremost would like to express our deepest sympathies to his family. The Winnipeg Football Club has lost not only a great coach, but an even better man.”

Harris joined the Blue Bombers in 2006 as the team’s Defensive Line Coach after spending one season with the Ottawa Renegades. He was appointed Assistant Head Coach prior to the 2011 season. Harris, who was 63-years old, started his CFL coaching career with the B.C. Lions in 2001.

As a player Harris spent eight season in the National Football League. He was a first-round draft pick (5th overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Winnipeg's next game is Thursday night at home against B.C. 
 

 

-photo courtesy Merle Peters-