Ticats announce death of GM Ted Goveia, who disclosed cancer diagnosis in June

HAMILTON – General manager Ted Goveia of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has died. 

The Ticats confirmed Goveia’s death Friday. He was 55.

In a release, the Ticats said they were “deeply saddened” and would honour Goveia’s impact on Canadian football during Friday evening’s “Team Ted” game against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“Ted was a highly respected leader, colleague, and friend whose passion and commitment for Canadian football left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His dedication to the game and to the Tiger-Cats family will never be forgotten,” the team said in a statement.

The native of Burlington, Ont., who was in his first season as Hamilton’s GM, disclosed in June that he’d been diagnosed with “a serious form of cancer.”

“Ted’s spirit will always be with us,” said Jen Martin, Goveia’s fiancée. “Ted enjoyed hearing about all of the plans for ‘Team Ted’ Night and his friends and family look forward to celebrating his life and legacy at the game (Friday night) with all of the Ticats fans.”

Although there was no specific mention as to the form of the disease, two league sources said Goveia was battling esophageal cancer.

“I wanted to keep my health condition in-house until we had a chance to build our team and pick our final roster,” Goveia said in June. “I am grateful that we were able to focus on fielding the best team possible for 2025 and not have my health become a distraction.

“I let the players know that I’m not going to be here (at team facilities) every minute of the day, and I’m going to be in treatment and need to focus on my health. I’m still the general manager, but I’ll not always be in the building. But in today’s day and age, everything’s downloaded to my laptop and there’s always the phone.”

Goveia was named Hamilton’s GM on Dec. 5, 2024, following 11 years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The appointment was a homecoming for Goveia, who played high school football at Assumption Secondary School and later coached there as well as at other local organizations.

Goveia’s early days as Ticats’ GM were long and busy as he put together a staff while looking to improve a roster that last year missed the CFL playoffs, all the while getting to know the people in his new workplace.

But in March, Goveia told The Canadian Press he never had to look far to gain a sense of perspective or appreciation that he’d landed his dream job.

“The other morning I went into the office at 6:30 a.m.,” Goveia said. “Got up, grabbed my coffee and drove over the (Burlington Skyway) bridge, and I’m looking out, and the sun was coming up.

“I just sat there smiling as I drove, thinking, `Man, I’m 17 minutes from home.’ I do love southern Ontario and appreciate the opportunity to work back at home, for sure.”

Goveia twice won a Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers (2019, ’21), ironically at the Ticats’ expense both times.

“Ted’s passion for the game, his sharp eye for talent and his unwavering dedication to building championship teams helped shape the success of our organization,” Bombers president Wade Miller said in a statement. “We are forever grateful for the years we shared with Ted and for the legacy he leaves behind.

“Our hearts are with his family, friends and everyone across the CFL who were fortunate enough to know him.”

Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea said Goveia was very giving, especially to those he didn’t even know.

“Ted meant a lot to Canadian football,” O’Shea said. “He’s donated time, money and effort to things we don’t even know about to make sure Canadian kids have opportunities.

“Ted’s always been that way, and it didn’t matter what level.”

Hamilton (7-11) missed the 2024 CFL playoffs and last won the Grey Cup in 1999. 

“I don’t own that record (championship drought) and neither do our players,” Goveia said. “I get the question, but it doesn’t change the way I work and never will.

“The goal is always to play and win the last game but that’s tough to do. Everyone is working hard to get there and I believe we’ll get there.”

The team currently sits in first place in the East Division at 7-5.

In a statement, the CFL called Goveia a leader who valued people as much as success.

“Ted never allowed his relentless drive for excellence to blind him to what mattered most — people. He made time for others, and he had a kind word for everyone he met,” the statement said.

Goveia began his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 2010.

He began his tenure in Winnipeg as the club’s assistant GM/player-personnel director before being promoted to senior assistant GM in 2019 following the franchise’s 33-12 Grey Cup win over Hamilton.

Goveia said being away from the team while undergoing treatment would only serve to motivate him in his fight.

“I enjoy being around our players and I will miss the daily interaction — it motivates me to kick this and get back with the team,” he said. “I feel like we’re in good shape, but I did have to meet with everybody in the building because I thought they had the right to know.

When Goveia joined the Argos, he served as running backs coach and director of Canadian scouting before being promoted to player-personnel director. Over his four seasons with the club (2010-13), it reached the playoffs three times and captured the 100th Grey Cup in 2012 under then-head coach Scott Milanovich, who’s entering his second season as Hamilton’s head coach/offensive co-ordinator.

Goveia would later be on two Grey Cup-winning squads in Winnipeg (2019, 2021).

Before making the move to the CFL, Goveia spent 15 years coaching Canadian university football, including stops at his alma mater, Mount Allison, McMaster, and the University of British Columbia.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2025.