Photo courtesy of Tyler MacMaster/Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Former Southeast Valley standout and Iowa Hawkeye Kyler Fisher makes a play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League earlier this season.

HAMILTON, Ontario — Black and Gold seems to be the perfect uniform colors for Kyler Fisher.

For six years, the former Southeast Valley all-stater suited up in that color scheme for the University of Iowa.

He has since traded his Hawkeye Black and Gold for Hamilton Tiger-Cat Black and Gold up north.

Fisher, who started in his final season for the Hawkeyes at linebacker in 2024, has kept his football career going. He is now playing professionally in the Canadian Football League as No. 43 for Hamilton.

The long-time Farnhamville resident was a standout running back and linebacker for the Jaguars in high school, before moving to the defensive side of the ball at Iowa.

Now, the 24-year-old is living out his dream as a professional football player in the CFL for the Tiger-Cats.

Fisher still has dreams of playing in the NFL, but when the CFL came calling this past offseason, he answered.

“I finished pro day and had a really good showing. A few NFL teams reached out leading up to the draft,” Fisher said. “From what they were telling me, it was very doubtful that I’d be drafted, but there were opportunities to get an invite to some rookie camps.

“Fast forward to after the draft, for two or three weeks I was in talks with two teams, and basically was in the final cuts to get an invite.”

When Fisher didn’t get the answers he wanted from the NFL franchises, he changed directions.

“After not receiving an invite, my agent talked to me about the CFL. So I put my name out there into that league,” Fisher said. “The next day, I got a phone call. Two days later I was flying out to join the Tiger-Cats in training camp.

“It all happened so fast. I got to Canada for the first time in my life, and they were already two weeks into training camp with a preseason game coming up in two weeks.”

Fisher knew he had to prove himself almost immediately.

“Just like in the NFL, preseason is basically a tryout to see if you can make the actual roster,” Fisher said. “Knowing I’d have to make up some ground, I went to work. And by the end of the camp I made the team.”

Fisher cracked the starting lineup for the Tiger-Cats in Week 11. Hamilton is currently 9-6 overall with three games remaining.

The former Jaguar is fourth on the team with 56 tackles.

The toughest part of moving was leaving his friends and family some 900 miles away back in Iowa.

“It was a really tough decision and it’s been really hard being away from the people I love back home,” Fisher said. “But I believe in my ability, and I’ve invested in myself and this journey I’ve been on my whole life.

“I can’t stop when I know there’s so much out there for me to accomplish.”

Once Fisher stepped on the field, there were some adjustments to make.

“At first it seems like the same game,” Fisher said. “But the more you play and watch, the more you realize how different it really is. Canadian football uses 12 (starters on offense and defense) instead of 11, and the field is 110 yards with 20 yard end zones. So more people, bigger field.

“There are also only three downs instead of four on offense, so you have to get first downs quicker in order to get down field. This changes the game quite a bit for players, but if you’re just watching, it probably wouldn’t seem like that big of a change.”

Fisher had to learn a lot of the rules, regulations and cadence of practice and games on the fly.

“It’s taken some time to get used to the little changes, but it hasn’t hindered me in any way,” Fisher said. “It’s fun learning another way the game can be played. The different perspective gives me a deeper appreciation for football in general.”

Fisher didn’t know anyone in Canada upon arrival, but he has met some people from the States during his time in Ontario.

“When I first got to Canada, I didn’t know anybody,” Fisher said. “One guy came up and let me know he’s got family that lives pretty close to me in Iowa.

“There are quite a few guys who either played with a teammate of mine at Iowa, or was a roommate with one of my friend’s friends, or something like that.

“It’s cool to see how small the world really is.”

During his time as a Hawkeye, Fisher developed a deeper lover for football.

“I was at Iowa for a long time. Six years is more than a lot of people would be at a university, but it really was a blessing to be a part of all those teams,” FIsher said. “It was great to be around such great coaches and build so many life-long friendships.

“I would’ve stayed another four years if I was able to.”

Even though he’s in a different country now, family still remains near and dear to Fisher’s heart.

“Although I was ‘away’ from home in college, Iowa City still felt like home with me being the same state and even having a chance to drive home for whatever reason on a weekend,” Fisher said. “In Hamilton, it’s obviously a lot different.

“It’s for sure a new experience for me. It truly feels like my first time away from home.”

Fisher has adapted well to the change.

“It’s had its challenges — especially living downtown in a big city (nearly 800,000 people are in the Hamilton metro area),” Fisher said. “Parking has never been harder. But overall, it’s been a good experience and another learning opportunity.

“My family still reaches out a lot and is planning to make it for a game here soon, so I’m excited to have them up for a weekend to see me play.”