Winnipeg Blue Bombers extend standout DB Deatrick Nichols

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American defensive back Deatrick Nichols to a one-year contract extension. He was a pending free agent.

The 31-year-old started all 18 regular-season games for the team in 2025 at boundary halfback and recorded 37 defensive tackles.

The five-foot-ten, 189-pound defender originally joined the Blue Bombers in 2021 after leading the XFL in interceptions the previous year. He has since earned three All-West Division selections, two All-CFL selections, and won one Grey Cup.

Over 82 career regular-season games, Nichols has made 211 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles, one sack, and one touchdown.

Nichols was 3DownNation’s No. 38-ranked pending free agent.

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.