| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1982-10-16)October 16, 1982 (age 43) Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 315 lb (143 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. Mary's Preparatory (Orchard Lake Village, Michigan) |
| College | Grand Valley State |
| CFL draft | 2004: 3rd round, 21st overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 2006 | Green Bay Packers |
| 2007–2015 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2016 | Toronto Argonauts |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |
Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2023) | |
Joshua Nathan Bourke (born October 16, 1982) is a Canadian former professionalfootballoffensive lineman. He spent the majority of his professional career with theMontreal Alouettes of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He also spent time with theToronto Argonauts (CFL) and theGreen Bay Packers (NFL).
Bourke attendedSt. Mary's Preparatory inOrchard Lake, Michigan, and went on toGrand Valley State University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration. From 2000 to 2005 he played on theGrand Valley State Lakers football team. In 2005 he was named GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year and a First-Team All-GLIAC.[1]
Bourke signed with theGreen Bay Packers of theNational Football League in May 2006. He was released on June 8, 2007, without playing in a regular season game.[1]
Bourke was chosen by the Alouettes in the third round of the2004 CFL draft but he continued for another year atGrand Valley State.
In August 2007 Bourke signed with Montreal. He missed the final game of the2007 regular season and the playoffs due to a knee injury but signed a contract extension on January 7, 2008. His performance in the2008 CFL season earned him a spot on theEast Division All-Star team.[1] Josh Bourke was recognized as a CFL Eastern All-Star every season from 2008 through the2014 CFL season. Bourke won theGrey Cup with the Alouettes in both the2009 CFL season and the2010 CFL season.
Other personal accolades include being named the CFL Offensive lineman of the year in 2011, being selected to the CFLPA All-Star team from 2011 to 2013 and being named the CN Adopt an Alouette of the Year in 2013.
Following the 2013 campaign Bourke's contract expired on February 11, 2014. He was quickly re-signed roughly two hours after becoming a free-agent; signing the highest paid non-QB salary in the league at $215,000 per season (two-year deal).[2]
On the first day of 2016free agency, February 9, 2016, Bourke signed withToronto Argonauts.[3] Bourke played in 10 games for the double-blue in 2016, missing the second half of the season with injuries.[4] Following only one season in Toronto, he was released by the club on January 9, 2017.[5]
On June 17, 2017, Bourke announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34.[6]
Bourke was announced as a member of theCanadian Football Hall of Fame 2023 class on March 16, 2023.[7]
Bourke is currently a CFL Medical Board Member and a CFL players association player representative.