B.C. Lions sign one-time Buccaneers leading rusher Peyton Barber four years after last NFL snap

The B.C. Lions have signed veteran NFL running back Peyton Barber in the hopes that he can make a comeback north of the border.

The 31-year-old enjoyed a six-year career in the NFL after going undrafted in 2016 and is best remembered for his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His best season came in 2018 when he posted 234 carries for 891 yards and five touchdowns as the Bucs’ top back.

Barber also spent time with the Washington Commanders and last played for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021, where he carried the ball 55 times for 212 yards and two touchdowns. In 89 career NFL games, he rushed 700 times for 2,457 yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 71 receptions for 428 yards and two scores.

“Peyton is a big, physical runner who is built for Buck Pierce’s offence,” general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a statement. “We’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do when we get to Kamloops in May.”

The five-foot-11, 225-pound ball carrier played at Auburn University, where he dressed in 19 games over three seasons. In his final campaign, he rushed for 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns on 238 carries, with 11 receptions for 112 yards, before declaring early for the NFL Draft.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.