All-CFL receiver Justin Hardy re-signs with Ottawa Redblacks: sources

Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca

The Ottawa Redblacks have re-signed All-CFL receiver Justin Hardy to a one-year contract for the 2026 CFL season, per sources.

The 34-year-old’s new deal is worth $210,000 in hard money with an additional $7,000 available in statistical, all-star, and awards incentives.

The five-foot-eleven, 192-pound target recorded his third consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2025 despite working with four different starting quarterbacks: Dru Brown, Matthew Shiltz, Dustin Crum, and Tyrie Adams. He recorded 78 receptions for 1,019 yards and eight touchdowns over 18 regular-season games.

Hardy was the third-highest paid receiver in the CFL last season, earning $227,000 for his efforts. He’s been named a CFL all-star once and East Division all-star three times since signing with Ottawa in 2022. He has registered 304 catches for 3,787 yards with 16 touchdowns over 59 career regular-season CFL games.

The native of Vanceboro, N.C. led the CFL with 97 receptions in 2024 and ranked second with 1,343 receiving yards. He earned $147,000 that year.

Hardy was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons out of East Carolina University. He posted 95 receptions for 946 yards with nine touchdowns over 73 career NFL games and earned over $3.8 million USD in five years with the team.

With Hardy returning, the Redblacks have the team’s top two pass catchers from last year — Eugene Lewis being the other — under contract for the 2026 CFL season.