Brian Bulcke (born April 27, 1987) is a Canadian former professional football defensive lineman who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted sixth overall by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 2010 CFL Draft and later played for the Calgary Stampeders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Toronto Argonauts.
Early Life and Education
Bulcke was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He played defensive and offensive line for École Secondaire L'Essor and Saint Anne Catholic High School in Tecumseh, Ontario. He was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball and served as team captain as a senior. He was named All-Ontario offensive guard by Weir's Magazine and conference defensive MVP as a senior after recording 54 tackles and 7 sacks.
He attended Stanford University, where he played college football for the Stanford Cardinal. He began his college career as a middle linebacker before switching to defensive line. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Management Science & Engineering.
Professional Football Career
Bulcke was selected sixth overall in the 2010 CFL Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos but remained at Stanford to complete his college eligibility. His rights were traded to the Calgary Stampeders, and he signed with them on September 11, 2011, after a tryout with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He played for the Stampeders from 2011 to 2012.
He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on February 15, 2013, and played there through 2015, helping lead the team to an appearance in the 101st Grey Cup. He was nominated for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Canadian Player awards in 2013 and served as team captain in 2014.
On February 11, 2016, Bulcke signed with the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent. He was released on August 18, 2016, after playing in one game.
Over his CFL career, Bulcke recorded 8.0 quarterback sacks and 70 defensive tackles across 50 games played.
Post-Football Career
After his playing career, Bulcke became an entrepreneur and youth advocate. He is the Managing Partner of Play4Tomorrow Studios, a design academy and technology accelerator focused on youth development. He has also served as CEO of Pillar Internet and Fantravel. He has been involved with concussion awareness and prevention advocacy, working with TeachAids on the CrashCourse Football curriculum, the Concussion Legacy Foundation, and Brain Injury Services. He is also a Play Ambassador for Right To Play, a global charity focused on children's education through play.
