Despite early promise and a winning high school career, Memphis Wells’ journey to becoming a professional football player was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting him to carve out a new role with a semi-professional team.
Growing up in Saskatchewan, Wells spent countless nights watching the Saskatchewan Roughriders with his family, dreaming of playing the game himself.
At age 10, he started playing with Regina Minor Football. From the moment he stepped onto the field, he was hooked.
One of his earliest memories is the day he ran 80 yards — nearly the entire length of the field — to catch his opponent and save the play.
By Grade 10, Wells realized football could open doors he had not considered accessible, giving him a chance to be noticed by recruiters.
“I knew I couldn’t really, like, afford university and stuff. So, like, if I could get looks through football and stuff, then that was the way to go,” he said.
After a few years in different positions, Wells — only 15 at the time — tightened his chinstrap, moved into the offensive backfield, and stepped into the quarterback role for the first time.
With the game in his hands and the weight of leadership on his shoulders, his passion for football was reignited.
High school football played out like a season-long highlight reel. In a blur of tackles and touchdowns, the stands echoed with cheers as Wells’ team racked up 28 wins, lost only one game and claimed three provincial championships.
Those victories set the stage for his next chapter.
By his senior year, invitations to training camps and junior programs were rolling in, and Wells left the prairies of Saskatchewan to join the Okanagan Sun in Kelowna, B.C., for his rookie season.
Momentum interrupted by COVID-19
Wells spent his days at camp juggling film sessions, walkthroughs, and high-intensity practices in the relentless valley heat.
Even after suffering heatstroke, he still made a great impression on the coaches — despite feeling like he just crawled out of an incinerator.
But as his first year closed out, COVID-19 closed in.
Wells wasn’t sure if he would return the following season. The pandemic made the decision for him.
“I was already kind of on the fence of, like, whether I go back or not kind of thing, because the expense was already, like, pretty costly for my rookie season. So, I mean, that kind of solidified my decision,” he said.
Wells took two years off from the sport he loved and the career he spent most of his life pursuing. Without the guidance of his coaches and team, his ability to train during lockdown was limited.
“There’s a saying where, like, you’ll never get back the year of football you lost,” he said.
Finding his way back
When restrictions lifted, Wells was determined to find a way back into the game.
He was prepared to quit his retail management job to move to Alberta for football when his employer opened a location in Airdrie for him.
After settling in, Wells joined the Calgary Colts, playing with them for his fourth junior season, but ultimately left the team due to instability and a complete turnover of the coaching staff.
During that time, he learned about the Alberta Football League, a high-level semi-professional league for players over 21. Assuming it was more of a “beer league” than a serious competition, Wells took a step back to sit on the sidelines.
A year later, when the Calgary Gators reached out, he decided to give the AFL a shot.
After finding out he would only be on the field for half the games, Wells moved to the Calgary Wolfpack, playing only two games before transferring to the Airdrie Irish.
Now, he has returned to the Wolfpack, where he plans to stay.
More than just a player
Wells’ return to the team did more than give them a skilled player.
It gave them a player who brings positivity and reliability to every practice and game.
“He always has your back if you’re good to him, and just nothing ever brings him down. So he’s just a good energy to have around,” said Tim McAlinden, a veteran quarterback and the team’s unofficial “locker room dad.”
At 24, Wells balances long days installing siding with evenings and weekends dedicated to football and helping the Wolfpack with sponsorships, merchandise, and recruiting, even during the off-season.
His commitment to the team on and off the field does not go unappreciated.
“He’s a key individual on our administration side for sponsorships and stuff. He’s probably gotten us 80 per cent of the money that came in last year.” McAlinden said.. “Huge huge huge guy on that side on the field.”
Looking ahead
Wells recently applied for a head coach position with a local Bantam team, hoping to guide young players the way he wished someone had guided him.
“If I can show kids that if you can have fun and actually take it seriously, you can go somewhere, because I never really had a coach to, like, do that for me.”