The Ottawa Redblacks concluded a franchise-worst 1-17 season marked by significant organizational and roster changes, signaling a need for a fresh start. The team went through a series of leadership departures during the campaign — defensive coordinator Will Fields was dismissed on August 1, followed by vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke on August 17, and president Adrian Scarra stepping down by August 23.
On the field, the Redblacks struggled with instability, cycling through three different starting quarterbacks. Rookie Bryson Barnes secured the team’s only victory in a Week 17 start against Toronto. Injuries also took a toll, with 18 players spending time on the six-game injured list and eight others on the one-game list.
Receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who set a Canadian Football League record with 1,834 kickoff return yards, reflected on the emotional toll of the difficult season. “You come out mad, you come out sad, you come out happy over the fact it’s over,” he said. Despite the disappointment, players expressed cautious optimism about the future.
Linebacker Nyles Morgan, who is set to become a free agent, emphasized the potential for improvement. “No one wants to feel this feeling ever again,” Morgan said. “With this type of season, the upside is it’s only up from here, truly. And obviously, we want to be more than just up. We want to be in a championship one day.” Morgan also indicated an interest in returning to the team.
The Redblacks recently appointed Mike Morreale as their new president, positioning him to oversee critical decisions including the evaluation of head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie, who was signed last season to a three-year contract covering both roles along with offensive coordinator duties, now faces scrutiny following the team’s disappointing record.
Dinwiddie acknowledged the need for self-assessment and improvement. “It starts today,” he said. “We’ve got to focus on things we can correct to get better.” While he confirmed plans to remain with the team, Dinwiddie also accepted that organizational roles might be adjusted in the offseason, but downplayed concerns over his workload.
Several key players, including Morgan, linebacker Lucas Cormier, veteran fullback Anthony Gosselin, quarterbacks Jake Maier and McLeod Bethel-Thompson, receiver Justin Hardy, and offensive linemen Drew Desjarlais, Sean McEwen, and Zack Pelehos, are entering free agency. Hardy, who has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons but has appeared in just one playoff game with the Redblacks, expressed openness to different options in free agency.
Players responded positively to Morreale’s hiring and expressed confidence that the organization can recover. Cormier noted the competitive nature of the CFL’s nine-team landscape where rapid turnarounds are possible. He also highlighted Dinwiddie’s two Grey Cup wins as a valuable asset for rebuilding efforts.
With a new president in place and the offseason underway, the Redblacks face significant decisions as they aim to rebound from their difficult season and build a more competitive roster.