The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed Canadian running back Brady Oliveira to a three-year contract extension, tying him to the team through 2028. He was set to become a free agent in February.
According to 3DownNation insider Justin Dunk, Oliveira will earn $290,000 in the first year of the deal, then $300,000 in 2027 and 2028. The local star was already the CFL’s highest-paid running back, earning $240,000 in 2025.
The 28-year-old rushed for 1,163 yards and three touchdowns over 15 regular-season games this past season, leading the CFL in yards-per-carry (min. 50 attempts). He also set all-new career-highs in receiving with 61 catches for 546 yards.
The five-foot-ten, 229-pound ball-carrier was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2024, becoming only the fifth Canadian player in CFL history to win the award. He’s also a two-time Most Outstanding Canadian, two-time All-CFL selection, two-time CFL rushing champion, and two-time Grey Cup winner.
Over 83 regular-season CFL games, Oliveira has rushed for 5,480 yards, caught 188 passes for 1,830 yards, and scored 27 total touchdowns.
Earlier this offseason, a CFL statistician confirmed to 3DownNation that Oliveira ranks eighth all-time among Canadian rushers. He needs only 1,365 more rushing yards to move into third place behind Andrew Harris and Normie Kwong. Oliveira also needs only one more 1,000-yard season to tie Harris for the Canadian record of five.
“He’s arguably the best tailback in the league,” said head coach Mike O’Shea earlier this offseason. “We love his style, we love the way he plays. He’s a hometown kid — not that that even matters — he’s just really, really good.”
Oliveira was 3DownNation’s second-ranked pending CFL free agent. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2019 CFL Draft out of the University of North Dakota.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Zach Collaros threw for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 regular-season games, going 6-7 as a starter.
The Blue Bombers ranked fifth in net offence, third in net defence, and eighth with a turnover differential of minus-eleven. The club’s leading rusher was Brady Oliveira with 1,163 yards, leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and leading tackler was Tony Jones with 104 tackles. Winnipeg ranked first in attendance with average crowds of 32,343, which was a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year.
