Toronto Argonauts re-sign Global trailblazer Thiadric Hansen, one other

Photo: Aru Das/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Toronto Argonauts have re-signed Global defensive lineman Thiadric Hansen and Canadian linebacker Brian Harelimana.

Hansen saw action in 11 games for the Argos in 2025, recording nine special teams tackles. The 33-year-old originally joined the team in 2024, appearing in 12 contests while making four defensive tackles, 10 special teams tackles, and a sack. He helped the Boatmen hoist the Grey Cup, winning his third CFL championship.

The native of Flensburg, Germany, was originally selected with the second overall pick in the 2019 CFL European Draft, a precursor to the modern Global Draft, by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He spent four seasons with the team, recording 19 defensive tackles, 21 special teams tackles, four sacks, and three forced fumbles in 46 games. He won two CFL titles with the Bombers and is best remembered for a hellacious hit on special teams in the 2019 Grey Cup.

The six-foot-one, 235-pound defender played linebacker for the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of the German Football League prior to his time in the CFL, and was the club’s all-time leading tackler upon his departure. During the cancelled 2020 season, he suited up for the Wroclaw Panthers in the Polish Football League and helped that team to a Polish Bowl title.

A bus driver by trade, Hansen helped facilitate the evacuation of Ukrainian refugees to Germany following the Russian invasion.

Harelimana played 14 games for Toronto in 2025, tallying five special teams tackles. He first joined the Double Blue late in 2023 and would help the Argos win the Grey Cup in 2024.

The five-year CFL veteran spent his first three seasons in Montreal after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 CFL Draft. For his career, Harelimana has recorded 19 defensive tackles, 32 special teams tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 58 games.

The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.

The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.