WINNIPEG - Former Bison football star Israel Idonije becomes only fourth CIS player to earn trip to NFL's Super Bowl game Chicago Bears will represent NFC in Championship game.
After being the first Bison football player to be signed and make the roster with a NFL team - the Chicago Bears - in the 2004 season, former Bison football star Israel "Izzy" Idonije has made another impact. He becomes the first Manitoba Bison and only fourth CIS player to ever earn a trip to the NFL's championship game - the Super Bowl.
In only his third season with the Chicago Bears, Idonije will now be playing for a championship ring. He joins an exclusive group of former CIS players who have been involved in the Super Bowl game. Ken Clark (St. Mary's) was a punter for the Los Angeles Rams in 1979 and was the first CIS player to appear in the Super Bowl (SB XIV, 1980; Rams lost 31-19 to Pittsburgh). Tyrone Williams (Western) was a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys in 1993 and was on Dallas roster but did not dress. (Super Bowl XXVII, 1994; Cowboys beat Buffalo 52-17). Jean-Philippe Darche (McGill) is a centre with the Seattle Seahawks since 2000 and became the second CIS player to dress for a Super Bowl game (SB XV, Feb. 5, 2006; Seattle lost 21-10 to Pittsburgh).
Former Calgary Dino Dan Federkeil plays for the Indianapolis Colts, which defeated the New England Patriots 38-34 on Sunday night in the AFC Championship, meaning one former CIS player will get a Super Bowl ring in 2007.
Idonije, 26, played in 13 regular season games and both playoff games for the Bears this season. In the 2006 regular season he had 13 tackles (nine were solo) and in the playoffs, he has contributed a crucial punt rush that helped set-up good field position for the Bears in the game versus Seattle. In the NFC Championship game, Idonije had one sack and one tackle in the win over New Orleans.
In the 2005 season, he played 11 games as a defensive lineman and made 16 tackles and one sack. In his first NFL season with the Bears, the 6'6'', 270 lbs. player registered 21 tackles and one sack in 15 games.
Idonije had a stellar career with the Bisons. In his four seasons at Manitoba, he was the third Bison to capture the J.P. Metras Trophy for outstanding lineman in Canadian university football in 2002. The Brandon native was the team's MVP in 2002, selected to two Canada West all-star and CIS first team All-Canadian selections in 2001 and 2002 and help lead the team to a Vanier Cup appearance in 2001. Idonije was also invited to the play in the 2003 East- West Shrine Bowl and named the Manitoba Male Athlete of the Year by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sports Broadcasters Association in 2002.