Let’s start by stating the obvious: It has been a rough stretch for the Ottawa Redblacks.
After making the Grey Cup in three of the first five years of the team’s existence, including winning in 2016, the team has managed to play in just one playoff game since 2019, putting up a dismal 27-76-1 record over that span.
That prompted the organization to make a change by swooping in to snatch Ryan Dinwiddie away from the Toronto Argonauts on a three-year deal to become the team’s head coach, general manager, and offensive coordinator, giving him all the keys to turn this thing around.
The 45-year-old led the Argos to two Grey Cup championships, four consecutive East finals, and a 51-35 record in his time there, and of course, will look to bring some of that success to the nation’s capital.
Dinwiddie has already made his mark through free agency and with a new starting quarterback, so let’s see how the new look Redblacks actually look heading into the 2026 season.
Offence
One of the biggest storylines that started to develop throughout training camp and preseason was who would be named the Redblacks starting quarterback, the returning Dru Brown or free-agent pickup Jake Maier. It turned out to be the latter.
Ahead of the team’s final preseason game, Dinwiddie announced that Maier would be the No.1 quarterback after serving as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ backup to Trevor Harris in 2025.
“I think he’s throwing the football well,” said Dinwiddie. “He’s moving better than he has in the past. He did a great job this off-season, really training his body. We need to get him some more reps with the [first-team offence], so that was our decision.”
In the three years before Saskatchewan as the full-time starter in Calgary, Maier completed 68.7 per cent of his passes for 10,474 yards, 55 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions.
What Maier brings over Brown is more experience, durability, accuracy, and overall consistency. While Brown is the more dynamic quarterback with more arm talent, the flow of the offence was erratic and inconsistent with him under centre (the poor offensive line play during his tenure was a major factor as well).
Maier is a lower-variance pivot, consistently opting to push the ball downfield less than virtually every other pivot in the league, especially Brown, who had the second most throws of 20-plis yards last season.
That also means the 29-year-old limits turnovers, which is something Ottawa’s offence absolutely had to fix. The team’s league-leading 46 cough-ups in 2025 were unacceptable; Maier should help in that regard.
A running back who can serve as a checkdown option and make things happen with the ball in his hands is the perfect next to Maier, and Ottawa went out and got one of the best receiving backs north of the border in Greg Bell.
Expect the 27-year-old to be heavily involved in the pass game – in what could be a heavy passing attack – after leading the league in targets (74) and receptions (62) amongst backs last season in Hamilton (he also rushed for over 1,000).
Dinwiddie has traditionally called high-passing offences previously, leading the league by far in pass percentage in 2025 at over 77 per cent. With Dinwiddie’s history, Bell, and this group of receivers in the mix, Ottawa should be among the top passing teams in 2026.
There is an argument that this group of pass catchers could produce among the league’s best in 2026, as between starters Eugene Lewis, Justin Hardy, Ayden Eberhardt, Kalil Pimpleton, and Canadian Keelan White, it’s a core that can do everything.
Lewis and Eberhardt can stretch the field, Hardy operates across the middle of the field, Pimpleton is a burner who can be used in sweeps and gadget packages, while White offers as an excellent checkdown option with upside. The team has much more depth at the position as well this season with 2025 Edmonton Elks starter Binjimen Victor, a healthy former second-overall pick Nick Mardner, and Hec Creighton trophy winner Ethan Jordan waiting in the wings.
Maier should also get the benefit of an improved offensive line. Dino Boyd returns at left tackle after a solid 2025, where he posted the seventh-best pressure rate allowed (4.8 per cent) among qualified tackles. Martez Ivey steps in at right tackle after playing in nearly 2,700 snaps for the Elks over the past three seasons. While he has some limitations in pass pro, he’s one of the best run blockers from the position north of the border.
With Ivey in and two-time division all-star Drew Desjarlais at left guard, that means 2022 second-overall pick Zack Pelehos kicks into right guard. The 26-year-old has struggled with injuries (has missed over 50 per cent of career games) and pass protection at right tackle since being selected. At centre, three-time All-CFL selection Sean McEwen is inserted after missing all of 2025 with an ACL tear. The group will have to prove it can stay healthy, but it has depth with first-overall pick, Giordano Vaccaro, and 2025 12th-overall pick Sam Carson pushing for playing time.
The unit in all areas showed great things in the preseason, and with a new offensive coordinator, quarterback, tailback, receiver, and a couple of new linemen all in the fold, it’s even more impressive. If Dinwiddie, Maier, and the offence can bring that same level of efficiency into the regular season, then it significantly raises this team’s ceiling.
Defence
Will Fields will look to build on a solid first season at the controls, especially against the run, in year two.
The unit allowed the second-fewest number of rushing yards per game (91.4) while also getting penetration into the offensive backfield, finishing second in tackles for loss (34).
The team sat middle of the pack in offensive points and net offence allowed. However, that should almost be considered a win given how often they were backed up, as Ottawa’s opponents had the best starting field position on average (39.5), thanks to the team’s high number of turnovers.
The front that was solid against the run in 2025 returns, with Canadians Cleyon Laing, Muftah Ageli, Aidan John, and Daniel Okpoko all in the mix, while former top prospect Luiji Vilain only adds to a Canadian core after spending five years in the NFL.
American veteran Michael Wakefield brings inside-out versatility and Global edge Habakkuk Baldonado is underrated, but the star of the show is edge Bryce Carter. The 28-year-old sets the edge and defends the run better than almost anybody in the league, though nine sacks over the past two seasons after posting 12 in 2023 is a bit underwhelming.
The pass rush as a whole was lacklustre last season, as the group will be asked to do more in that area. Ottawa went from recording the second-most sacks in 2024 (39) to the second-fewest last year (24).
The linebacking group was overhauled, and is now led by Saskatchewan Roughrider pickups in linebacker A.J. Allen and nickel C.J. Reavis.
They’ll be tasked with bringing some championship D.N.A. to the nation’s capital along with helping the unit force more turnovers, as the Redblacks forced the fewest last season (30).
Americans Nyles Morgan and Aaron Casey – who was with Dinwiddie in Toronto last season – will man the middle in place of the departed Jovan Santos-Knox.
The secondary features familiar faces across the unit, along with a big-time free agent acquisition on the corner in Demerio Houston.
The former All-CFL selection gives the Fields and the Redblacks their No.1 corner on the weak side to go up against the league’s best receivers. Canadian Alonzo Addae slots in at safety after virtually missing all of last season with injury, while Americans Bennett Williams, Amari Henderson, Shakur Brown, and Adrian Frye fill out the rest of the back end.
It’s a defence that should once again defend the run well, but with some big-time additions and internal development, will need to generate more of a pass rush, generate turnovers, and defend the pass better.
Overall, the Redblacks are in desperate need of a turnaround, and in only one off-season, Dinwiddie has gotten the team to a better place, theoretically. The games still have to be played, but the arrow is pointing up for the team in the nation’s capital heading into 2026.
