CFL champion has Grey Cup ring stolen from glove compartment

A Winnipeg-born Grey Cup champion with Edmonton says his heart sank when he discovered his CFL championship ring was stolen – and the former football player is pleading with the public to help get it back.

Eddie Steele was left frustrated and upset when his 2015 CFL Championship ring was stolen from his vehicle’s glove compartment while it was parked in his driveaway.

“I was going to take my son to school in the morning and I just noticed the glove compartments on both vehicles were open and just everything was messed around and thrown about throughout the car,” recounted Steele.

“The ring, that was all they took.”

Steele is a well-known defensive tackle on the Prairies. The early days of his career on the gridiron were spent with the Manitoba Bison.

He then played for Edmonton in the CFL, and most recently with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Steele became a two-time champion along the way. He won the Vanier Cup with the University of Manitoba in 2007, and the Grey Cup with Edmonton in 2015.

It’s that Grey Cup championship ring that’s been stolen.

“I was pretty frustrated, upset. There’s a mixed bag of emotions. Still feeling it,” he said.

The missing ring is an impressive piece of jewelry. It has the Edmonton logo embedded front and centre and the words “Grey Cup Champions” surrounding it.

It went missing from Steele’s Edmonton home Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

“I am just taking solace in knowing that it is just a possession.”

The ring was in the glove compartment of his car, stowed there as a safe location during the shuffle of a recent move.

The car was parked in the driveway of his home. Steele checked to make sure the cars were locked up at around 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Steele took to Twitter Wednesday morning: “My car was broken into last night in south Edmonton and they stole my 2015 Grey Cup Ring that was locked in the glove compartment.

“PLEASE PLEASE spread the word and if anyone can help I’d REALLY appreciate it!”

For clarity we just took possession of a new home and were moving. Thought it would be a safe place locked in the glove away from the chaos of moving because my office was torn apart. Our garage was full of possessions so we had to park on driveway. Both vehicles were hit https://t.co/piY8OWdQM4

— Eddie Steele (@Eddie_Steele97) April 27, 2022

He says the entire situation has helped put things into perspective.

“Knowing there is more to life,” he said. “Even in my circumstance, my son has a disability and he just had a good drive to school and he was happy and talkative, so it was kind of a reality check for me, and kind of a perspective check of I am very fortunate and there’s more to life than just things.

“But it sucks.”

@Eddie_Steele97 please DM me and I will buy you a new replacement ring

— Victor Cui (@victorcui) April 27, 2022

It appears the CFL champion will be getting a new ring, whether or not the original is returned. Current Edmonton Elks president and CEO Victor Cui was quick to step up and offer a replacement.

Cui reached out to Steele in reply to his tweet, with Steele calling Cui a class act.

Dozens and dozens of fans have also reached out with messages of support.

@Eddie_Steele97 Just saying…we didn't do it! pic.twitter.com/Eyy1qmyLju

— Laurie Keindel (@LKeindel) April 27, 2022

Steele says he has a message for the reported thief who took the ring, but it’s not one of anger.

“Ultimately I forgive you. I’m not going to sit here and hold you to the fire. That’s not for me to do and I do forgive you and if you have it in your heart that you want to return it or drop it off somewhere, that’d be amazing, because it is a once in a lifetime, really near and dear thing to my heart that I’ve earned and won.

“It sucks, but ultimately, hey, I forgive you, I’m not going to hold a grudge against you. You did it for a reason, I don’t know your circumstance.”