Michael Couture (born February 7, 1994) is a Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Michael Couture
No. 51     BC Lions
Couture with the BC Lions in 2024
Born: (1994-02-07) February 7, 1994 (age 30)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Offensive lineman
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight303 lb (137 kg)
CollegeSimon Fraser
High schoolCentennial Secondary
CFL draft2016, round: 2, pick: 10
Drafted byWinnipeg Blue Bombers
Career history
As player
20162022Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2023–presentBC Lions
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

University career

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Couture played college football for the Simon Fraser Clan from 2012 to 2015.[1]

Professional career

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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He was selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with the tenth overall pick in the 2016 CFL Draft and signed with the club on May 21, 2016.[2] He made the active roster following training camp and played in his first professional game on June 24, 2016, against the Montreal Alouettes.[3] Couture played in all 18 regular season games in 2016 and made his post-season debut that year in the West Semi-Final against the BC Lions.[3] In 2017, he again played in all 18 regular season games and, in 2018, he made his first professional start on September 8, 2018, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl.[3]

In 2019, Couture became the team's starting centre and started in all 18 regular season games.[3] However, he was injured in the final regular season game and missed the team's playoff run that culminated in a 107th Grey Cup victory.[3] He returned in 2021, where he started all 14 regular season games and started in the 108th Grey Cup where the Blue Bombers repeated as champions following their overtime win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[3]

Couture missed the first regular season games of his career in 2022 as he suffered an arm injury and played in just seven games.[3] However, he was healthy near the end of the season and contributed to the team's playoff run which ended in a defeat by the Toronto Argonauts in the 109th Grey Cup game.[3] He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.[4]

BC Lions

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On February 14, 2023, it was announced that Couture had signed with the BC Lions to a two-year contract.[5] He played and started in all 18 regular season games in 2023 and also started in both of the Lions' playoff games that year.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Michael Couture". Simon Fraser University. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Pre-rookie camp, pieces falling into place". Winnipeg Blue Bombers. May 21, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael Couture". BC Lions. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. ^ "Couture comes home | Lions sign veteran lineman to two-year deal". BC Lions. February 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "2024 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
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