Bombers running back Oliveira thankful for time spent with veteran Andrew Harris

They were teammates for just one full season, but it was more than long enough for Andrew Harris to positively impact Brady Oliveira's CFL career.

Oliveira, 26, has registered consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons since Harris's departure from Winnipeg following the 2021 campaign. And on Sunday, the five-foot-10, 220-pound running back will make a third straight Grey Cup appearance when the Bombers face the Montreal Alouettes at Tim Hortons Field.

Oliveira, whose 2019 rookie campaign was cut short when he sustained a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3, started 2021 as Harris's understudy.

He ran for 429 yards (4.6-yard average) and two touchdowns in 13 games, with Harris (662 yards, 5.4-yard average, three TDs) being limited to just six regular-season contests. Harris returned for the West Division final, rushing for 136 yards and a TD in a 21-17 win over Saskatchewan, then helped Winnipeg down Hamilton 33-25 in overtime at Tim Hortons Field for a second straight Grey Cup title.

"My time with Andrew was great, because I was really able to sit back and be patient, knowing my time wasn't there yet," Oliveira said Wednesday during Winnipeg's media day. "I wasn't ready yet but to learn from a future Hall of Famer truly did benefit my career.

"Andrew's strength, I think, is his football IQ and how he's able to attack defences with his mental [approach]."

Harris left Winnipeg as a free agent, signing with Toronto. He helped the Argos beat the Bombers 24-23 in last year's Grey Cup and was part of this year's team, which posted a record-tying 16-2 record before losing 38-17 to Montreal in the East Division final.

Harris, the top-rushing Canadian in league history, had said 2023 would be the final year of his illustrious