OLIVEIRA, BROXTON AND WILLIAMS NAMED CFL AWARD FINALISTS
WINNIPEG, MB., October 27, 2026 – The Canadian Football League today announced the finalists for the Most Outstanding Canadian, Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Awards with Brady Oliveira, Major Wiliams and Jarell Broxton representing the Blue Bombers.
The CFL has changed the award process this year with three finalists for each of the six categories being announced instead of the previous format which featured one finalist from the West and East Divisions.
The three finalists for the Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Most Outstanding Player Awards will be announced on Wednesday and comes after voting was conducted by 36 members of the local chapters of the Football Reporters of Canada and 20 national members.
Most Outstanding Canadian Finalist: Brady Oliveira
Oliveira captured his third rushing title this season, leading the CFL with 1,493 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 42 receptions for 348 yards and another score.
He also moved past Jon Cornish into third spot on the CFL's all-time rushing yardage list by a Canadian. Oliveira is now at 6,973, behind only Andrew Harris (10,380) and Normie Kwong (9,022).
Oliveira was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian Player for the fourth consecutive season in 2026. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2024 and a runner-up to the award in 2023 and was the league's Most Outstanding Canadian in both 2023 and 2024.
The Winnipeg product, now seven years into his career, has also moved into third place on the Blue Bombers all-time rushing list with 6,973 yards, passing Gerry James, Jim Washington and Williard Reaves this season and now behind only Roberts (9,987) and Leo Lewis (8,861).
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Finalist: Jarell Broxton
Broxton was the unanimous selection as the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in his first season with the team after signing this winter in free agency.
Broxton started 17 of 18 games at right tackle and was a key cog in the success of Oliveira in capturing another rushing title and in protecting the right side of the line for Winnipeg's quarterbacks.
He was the B.C. Lions Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in each of the previous three seasons, 2023-25, and was a CFL and West Division All Star in 2025.
Most Outstanding Rookie Player Finalist: Major Williams
Williams started all 18 games this season for the Blue Bombers in the defensive secondary and led the team with three interceptions, while ranking second to Tony Jones (91) in defensive tackles with 77. He added nine more takedowns on special teams and one tackle for a loss.
Vaval won special team player of the year!
Here's how Vaval found out
https://x.com/CFL/status/2115858581035852281?a=oAFzKLCBhj-zge9GVbM&s=20 (https://x.com/CFL/status/2115858581035852281?a=oAFzKLCBhj-zge9GVbM&s=20)
Quote from: Stats Junkie on October 29, 2026, 04:40:55 PMHere's how Vaval found out
https://x.com/CFL/status/2115858581035852281?a=oAFzKLCBhj-zge9GVbM&s=20 (https://x.com/CFL/status/2115858581035852281?a=oAFzKLCBhj-zge9GVbM&s=20)
It made me smile.
Quote from: Jesse on October 29, 2026, 04:32:48 PMVaval won special team player of the year!
Vaval had a good season returning but I'm surprised he won it again, his play at CB late in the season stood out to me more. Might not be long till the Bombers have to pay him $200k+.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on October 29, 2026, 05:24:43 PMVaval had a good season returning but I'm surprised he won it again, his play at CB late in the season stood out to me more. Might not be long till the Bombers have to pay him $200k+.
I believe he was 10 yards short of setting the record for return yardage in a season.
Quote from: Jesse on October 29, 2026, 05:42:40 PMI believe he was 10 yards short of setting the record for return yardage in a season.
Ok never heard about that, I see statistically he had the most punt returns, 22 more than Janarion Grant but a lower avg. return and he was 3rd in KO return yards behind Pimpleton and Mcallister again with a lower avg. return.
Broxton being a final-finalist goes to show the OL awards are picked by people who have no idea what's going on on OL. It's like everyone just picked the "big name", "big FA splash", "new blood" instead of actually studying what's going on.
But, even if he's not the best OL on our squad (I think Neuf was), it's nice to see him get picked as a finalist over many other teams' guys.