The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released Canadian offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski.
The 33-year-old was slated to hit free agency on February 10, but will now be able to test the market early as the Bombers elect to go in a different direction.
Kolankowski started all 18 games at centre in 2025, marking his third consecutive season without a start missed. He originally joined Winnipeg ahead of the cancelled 2020 season and has appeared in 73 games across five campaigns, making 69 starts. He won a Grey Cup with the team as a backup in 2021.
The native of Etobicoke, Ont., was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2016 CFL Draft out of York University by the Toronto Argonauts. He played 22 games for the Double Blue but never started, winning a Grey Cup in 2017.
The Bombers have also re-signed Canadian defensive lineman Tanner Schmekel.
The six-foot-one, 286-pound gap plugger was selected by the team in the fourth round of the 2023 CFL Draft after an All-Canadian final season with his hometown University of Regina Rams. He has since suited up for 26 CFL games, registering nine defensive tackles and two sacks.
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, the leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and the 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.
