Somewhere along the way, in some form or another, we’ve all had to deal with rejection. But not many of us have had a film crew on hand to record the experience for millions to see.
That was the case for 26-year-old Ottawa REDBLACKS receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who was prominently featured in the 2022 season of HBO’s Hard Knocks, the famous reality TV series produced by NFL Films. The show typically follows the behind-the-scenes operations of NFL teams, either before or during the season.
Pimpleton was trying to live out his NFL dream and win a job on the up-and-coming Detroit Lions after going undrafted, and his spirit and personality made him a viewer favorite. But the dream hit pause when head coach Dan Campbell and his staff delivered the bad news – with HBO’s cameras rolling.
Pimpleton didn’t get upset or throw his playbook across the room. With grace and class, he stood up and hugged the Lions coaches, and couldn’t have been more positive and thankful for his opportunity.
Pimpleton takes heart in the fact that so many people were drawn to his Hard Knocks story, experiencing and sharing that moment with him, then reaching out through social media to say how much he motivated and inspired them.
“People are drawn to light and positive energy,” Pimpleton said. “For that moment, for me to be cast out in front of so many people – and to see how devastating it could be to somebody else – the fact that I remained humble and positive in that setting allowed for people to draw towards that light,” Pimpleton said.
Pimpleton is no stranger to football’s hard knocks. After high school, he transferred to Central Michigan in 2018 following a year at Virginia Tech, where the Hokies told him in mid-season they didn’t think he’d get a chance to play very much. Later, after that tough experience in Detroit, Pimpleton got a shot with the New York Giants that didn’t pan out either.
After that stint with the Giants, Pimpleton found himself back at square one until the CFL came calling.
“I remained hopeful that I would get another opportunity. And I believed that when I got the opportunity, I would seize it.”
Pimpleton has done just that. He won a job in Ottawa last year, but began the season on the injured list. When he finally made his debut in Week 6, he was long overdue for something good to happen. He went off with 153 yards and a touchdown en route to Ottawa’s 37–34 victory over the Edmonton Elks. Pimpleton went on to play eight games last year, piling up 715 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns, earning him a CFL Most Outstanding Rookie nomination and a new two-year contract.
As Pimpleton sat down with me at a patio on a perfect mid-June afternoon in downtown Ottawa, that same kind of positive light and energy that he’s shown throughout his career flowed all through our 45-minute conversation about life and football.
What do you like about this year’s Ottawa REDBLACKS?
We have a good group of guys. We have a good coaching staff. And everybody’s working together. You have all these different people from different parts of the world all coming together to accomplish one goal. And that’s to win and win a Grey Cup.
What kinds of things do you like to do in Ottawa?
I stay on Chaudière Island so I might walk over and look at the waterfalls. I like to go out and try different types of foods. I’m always on Instagram scrolling, looking for different places to try. Poutine has grown on me. Instead of the classic, I might do a bacon cheeseburger poutine just to switch it up. A stroll in the park is a good day to me. I’m not high maintenance. Ottawa is a slower pace and that’s what I enjoy about it.
Was it a challenge to adjust to the CFL’s unique rules?
I won’t say that it was a challenge. It was definitely different. It absolutely took some adjusting. But at the end of the day, it’s the game of football. You still catch, you still throw, you still run.
Looking back on your college career, you went to the 2019 MAC Championship with Central Michigan. Was that the highlight of your college years?
The highlight for me was proving to myself that I could do it. Because I was told that I couldn’t. And that set the tone for the rest of my career, not just proving to everybody else that I could do it, but mainly proving to myself that I belong. That season allowed for me to have a leadership role, and it wasn’t just me, a bunch of guys on that team balled out. It’s one of my favourite teams that I’ve ever played with.
You actually played quarterback all through high school. Have you told Bob Dyce you’re ready if needed?
[Laughs] It’s funny that you say that because I had a dream not too long ago. I was back there running quarterback again. And I recently watched my high school highlights and I thought, man, I was a good passer then, but I’m a better passer now. Like I just understand the game a little better and the mechanics of being a passer, and I think I could get it done.
Who is your biggest fan and supporter in your life?
My mother, Tawana Brown. Yeah, it’s not even close. She’s been there literally from day one. And she hasn’t missed many football games. So it’s my mother, no question.
Did you play any other sports besides football?
I ran track in high school for a year and played some basketball in middle school. I played baseball for a year, but soccer was my first ever sport. I was four years old. I was just out there running around, having fun. But football has always been number one. I’m now into my 22nd year of playing football and I still find a way to fall in love with the game. Coming up here to Canada has refueled that passion and fire.
Your faith has been a big part of your journey, hasn’t it?
I’m telling you, man, that light and positive energy is not me. It’s not me. When people see that light, like when they see me on Hard Knocks, or when I was released from the Giants, or now I’m in the CFL thriving and not doing what everybody else thought that I would be doing, that’s the joy of the Lord. And that’s my strength, whether I’m playing football or not.
Any message for REDBLACKS fans about coming out to see you and the team this summer?
First of all, we take a lot of pride in winning. Geno Lewis said it best recently: ‘Whether you’re playing football, basketball, hockey, tennis, whatever it is, you hate to lose even more than you love winning.’ And TD Place is just a fun place. I played a lot of football games in a lot of stadiums in my life – high school, middle school, collegiate, professional. TD Place is one of the greater, more energetic places to play in all of the CFL.
What advice would you have for young football players?
Believe that you can accomplish your goals, and believe in whatever steps need to be taken. Learn how to adjust, because it almost never goes exactly how you think it’s gonna go. In my personal journey, it was me being told that basically I couldn’t be here, I couldn’t do it. That was my bump in the road, but I didn’t stop believing.
In a league built on second chances and resilience, Kalil Pimpleton is proving that heart, humility, and hard work are more than enough to light the way.
By Steve Warne | Photography by Sean Sisk
