Mike O’Shea: Jason Hogan ‘disappointed’ in Blue Bombers demotion but still ‘good coach’

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have demoted offensive coordinator Jason Hogan after head coach Mike O’Shea decided that a change was necessary.

“We weren’t good enough last year for a variety of reasons and we needed to seek someone with more experience,” O’Shea told the media on Monday.

“(Hogan was) obviously disappointed (with the demotion). He certainly wanted to have more production in his first year as an (offensive coordinator), so he’s disappointed in how it’s turned out, but I think if you were to ask him, he’s probably more disappointed for the team — not for him personally.”

Hogan was hired as Winnipeg’s running backs coach in 2022, the same year Brady Oliveira became the team’s full-time starter. The results were extremely positive as the team reached three-straight Grey Cups and Oliveira was twice named All-CFL, won two rushing titles, two Most Outstanding Canadian awards, and one Most Outstanding Player award.

The native of Montreal, Que. was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2025 but the results weren’t up to snuff. He threw Chris Streveler under the bus for throwing an untimely interception and, according to franchise quarterback Zach Collaros, had the offence rep plays during training camp that were never called during the regular season.

Oliveira indicated that he and Hogan had a long conversation shortly after the team’s loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the East Semi-Final, calling it tough but productive. The star running back said he wished he’d been able to spend more time with Hogan through the season and admitted the offence didn’t perform well enough.

The bruising ball-carrier will be seeing a lot more of Hogan in 2026, however, as he’s agreed to resume the role he held prior to becoming offensive coordinator.

“Returning back as running backs coach, that’s something I think (Hogan’s) thankful for. He’s been in that position before, he knows the room. I think he’s going to be excited for that. He’s a really good coach,” said O’Shea.

“I think the timing (of the promotion last year) was just maybe a little too soon for him. Most importantly, … I didn’t do a good enough job supporting him and making sure I was giving him what he needed. Certainly, for a guy to take a step back and continue with the same team, that’s a rarity, so I like that about his character. He’s certainly able to drop his ego and say, ‘Yeah, this is a job I want.'”

The team’s new offensive coordinator is Tommy Condell, who has previously held the same role with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, and Ottawa Redblacks. The 54-year-old has a receiver background and runs what is generally considered a pass-heavy scheme.

This might seem like an odd fit given how well Winnipeg runs the ball and the size of the recent contract extension given to star running back Brady Oliveira. O’Shea claimed he isn’t worried about it, suggesting his staff will be flexible in order to ensure the team achieves the most success possible.

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” he said. “I do believe that our coaching staff as a whole understands that on any given week, whatever it’s going to take that week to win a game, that part of our DNA is not going to change.”

The team’s longtime head coach indicated that he interviewed several candidates for the offensive coordinator position, though he didn’t provide a clear number. The only other person who reportedly interviewed was Mike Miller, who was recently promoted to the role of head coach with the Toronto Argonauts.

In 2025, Winnipeg ranked seventh in offensive points per game (23.1), fifth in offensive yards per play (6.38), ninth in passing yards per game (235.0), second in rushing yards per game (124.1), and sixth in sacks allowed (37).

Though these numbers are mediocre at best, they’re mostly better than what Condell’s offence managed in Ottawa. The Redblacks finished eighth in offensive points per game (22.1) ninth in offensive yards per play (5.99), fifth in passing yards per game (269.3), sixth in rushing yards per game (93.6), and seventh in sacks allowed (47).

Collaros and Condell worked well together over two seasons in Hamilton as the quarterback threw for 6,637 yards, 40 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions over 25 regular-season games. The Tiger-Cats reached the Grey Cup in 2014, then Collaros was the consensus front-runner to win Most Outstanding Player in 2015 before he suffered a torn ACL.

O’Shea said that hiring Condell was solely his decision, indicating that Collaros was given no say on the move.

“I know their history together. Over our course of time together, we’ve talked about various coaches that we had played for, that we had been around. Those conversations happen pretty naturally over the course of time, so I know what he feels about Tommy and his career, so I don’t need to go back and ask any questions,” he said.

“(Condell) was with Zach early in Zach’s formative years and they were very productive together, and so that would be a big part of it. He does have a tremendous amount of experience not just as an (offensive coordinator) but coaching in other leagues. All those different experiences add up to a guy who’s going to be unflappable.”

This isn’t the first time O’Shea has demoted an assistant coach. Richie Hall, who’d served as the team’s defensive coordinator for eight seasons, was replaced by Jordan Younger following the 2023 season. Hall remained on staff as an assistant, helping Younger lead a defence that’s been among the league’s best over the last two years.

Winnipeg’s coaching staff has yet to be finalized for 2026, O’Shea confirmed. With Hogan returning to the role of running backs coach, for instance, it’s unclear what will happen with André Bolduc, who filled the role in 2025. When asked specifically about the future of quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson, O’Shea said it’s “to be determined.”

Regardless of who fills the team’s coaching staff, one thing is for certain — they’ll have to do a better job in 2026 than 2025.