 Ball with theWinnipeg Blue Bombers in 2025 | |
| No. 29 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back |
| Roster status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2001-12-23)December 23, 2001 (age 24) |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Riffel(Regina, Saskatchewan) |
| College | North Dakota (2020–2023) |
| University | Calgary (2024) |
| CFL draft | 2025: 6th round, 54th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Ethan Ball (born December 23, 2001) is a Canadian professionalfootballdefensive back for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He playedcollege football atNorth Dakota andU Sports football atCalgary.
Ethan Ball was born on December 23, 2001.[1] He grew up aSaskatchewan Roughriders andSan Diego Chargers fan.[2] He also played hockey as a youth but by Grade 10, he decided to solely focus onfootball.[3] Ball playedhigh school football atMichael A. Riffel High School inRegina, Saskatchewan, playing bothwide receiver anddefensive back.[4] He had nearly 1,000 receiving yards his senior year and helped Riffel advance to the Regina Intercollegiate Football League championship game.[4]
Ball originally committed to playU Sports football for theCalgary Dinos of theUniversity of Calgary as a receiver.[2] However, he switched his commitment to theUniversity of North Dakota, where he playedAmerican football as a defensive back for theNorth Dakota Fighting Hawks from 2020 to 2023.[4][2] He played in one game during theCOVID-19 shortened 2020 season and posted one solo tackle beforeredshirting.[4] He played in seven games as a backup defensive back in 2021, recording two solo tackles and one assisted tackle.[4] Ball appeared in all 12 games during the 2022 season, seeing time onspecial teams and as a backup defensive back while totaling 18 solo tackles and seven assisted tackles.[4] He earned honorable mentionMVFC All-Academic Team honors for the 2022 season.[4] He played in 12 games in 2023, again as a backup defensive back and on special teams, recording 12 solo tackles and three assisted tackles.[4] He majored in environmental studies at North Dakota.[4]
In 2024, Ball transferred to the University of Calgary for his final season of eligibility in order to increase hisCFL draft odds by playingCanadian football again.[2] He only played in five games during the 2024 season due to injuries, posting 19 solo tackles, 16 assisted tackles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.[5][6] He majored in open studies at Calgary.[6]
Ball was selected by theWinnipeg Blue Bombers in the sixth round, with the 54th overall pick, of the2025 CFL draft.[5] He officially signed with the team on May 2, 2025.[7] He was moved to the practice roster on June 1.[7] On July 25, 2025, Ball was promoted to the active roster to replace the injuredLane Novak.[7][8]
Ball's father, Michael Ball, was a broadcaster for theSaskatchewan Roughriders from 2022 to 2023.[8]