Blue Bombers roster - 2025-2026

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Coty Wiles   @CotyWilesSports
Dec 31, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made the signings of WR Jamal Banks and Gerald Monroe, OL Tyler Elsbury and Joe More, and DB Cam McCutcheon official

Banks and McCutcheon's deals are through 2027, while the rest are through 2028

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers' QB Zach Collaros rings in new year with $100,000 offseason bonus
Justin Dunk - January 1, 2026

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Zach Collaros has rung in the new year with a $100,000 offseason roster bonus.

The 37-year-old will receiver another $100,000 on January 15. He has a $400,000 base salary for the 2026 CFL season, which will bring his total earnings for the year to an even $600,000. The 13-year veteran ranks as the three-down league's third highest-paid QB behind Nathan Rourke ($684,000) and Chad Kelly ($625,000) for the upcoming season.

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/01/winnipeg-blue-bombers-qb-zach-collaros-rings-in-new-year-with-100000-offseason-bonus/

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Blue Bombers re-sign veteran defensive lineman Tanner Schmekel
January 5, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian defensive tackle Tanner Schmekel

He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

Schmekel (6-1, 286; University of Regina; born: July 22, 1999, in Regina, SK.) returns in 2026 for his fourth year with the Blue Bombers and after a 2025 campaign that was cut short due to injury and limited to just four games.

Schmekel was having arguably his best start to his young pro career last year before the injury with a pair of tackles and a sack in those four contests, with his season ending in Saskatchewan in the annual Labour Day Classic.

He has now suited up for 26 regular-season games for the club since he was selected in the fourth round, 35thoverall, in the 2023 CFL Draft. Schmekel was a 2022 U Sports First-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star.

The club has also released National offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/05/blue-bombers-re-sign-veteran-defensive-lineman-tanner-schmekel/

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign defensive tackle Tanner Schmekel
January 5, 2026 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed defensive tackle Tanner Schmekel to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season on Monday.

Tanner Schmekel is six foot one and weighs 286 pounds. The 26-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, in 2025 made two tackles and one sack in four games before an injury ended his season.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Schmekel in the fourth round (35th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. In 2023, he made one tackle and one sack in five games. In 2024, Schmekel made six tackles in 17 games.

Schmekel played four seasons at the University of Regina (2017-18, 2021-22) with 58 tackles (27 solos, 31 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one pass breakup in 24 games for the Rams. In 2022, he was named U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star after finishing the season with 22 tackles (12 solos, 10 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one pass breakup in nine games.

In addition, Schmekel played one season for the Regina Thunder (CJFL) with 14 tackles (9 solos, 5 assists) and one forced fumble in five games. He is a three-time University of Regina Defensive Lineman of the Year.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2026/01/05/winnipeg-blue-bombers-re-sign-defensive-tackle-tanner-schmekel/


Winnipeg Blue Bombers release offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski
January 5, 2026 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Chris Kolankowski is six foot one and weighs 301 pounds. The 33-year-old from Etobicoke, Ontario, started 18 games in 2025. In 2025, Winnipeg's offense averaged 23.1 points per game, 345.7 net yards per game, 235 yards per game, 124.1 rushing yards per game, 38 touchdowns, and allowed 37 sacks to finish 10-8 for the season. They lost to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Semi-Final.

The Toronto Argonauts drafted Kolankowski in the sixth round (49th pick) in the 2016 CFL Draft. He played 22 games for the Argonauts, including winning the 2017 Grey Cup.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Kolankowski on February 6, 2020. There was no season in 2020. He has played 73 games and won a Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers in 2021.

In 2023, Winnipeg's offense ranked first in total points (594), average points per game (31.7), offensive touchdowns (62), average net offense per game (414.7), average rushing yards per game (139.1), second in offensive touchdowns (65), average passing yards per game (292.4), and sacks allowed (33).

In 2024, Kolanowski played in 18 games. Winnipeg's offense ranked eighth in average points (23.2), sixth in average net offense (358.5), third in average rushing yards (111.7), eighth in average passing yards (260.2), ninth in passing touchdowns (18), and fifth in sacks allowed (36).

Collegiately, Kolankowski played four seasons at York University (2012-15), playing 27 games for the Lions. He earned the team's Tom Arnott Yeoman of the Year Award for Hard Work and Character in 2015, and the Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award in 2018.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2026/01/05/winnipeg-blue-bombers-release-offensive-lineman-chris-kolankowski/

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Transactions:

2026-01-05   WPG   SCHMEKEL, Tanner   DL   N   Regina   ADD   Active Roster
2026-01-05   WPG   KOLANKOWSKI, Chris   OL   N   York   DEL   Free Agent

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Blue Bombers sign All-CFL halfback Evan Holm to two-year contract extension
January 6, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a two-year extension with veteran defensive back Evan Holm.

He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

Holm (5-11, 188; University of North Dakota; born: May 14, 1998, in Edina, MN.) returns in 2026 for his fifth year with the Blue Bombers and following a 2025 season that was the best in his Canadian Football League career.

Holm was named to the CFL and West Division All-Star teams in 2025 and was also saluted as the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive player after finishing with 55 tackles, six more on special teams, two forced fumbles and a team high four interceptions.

He started all 18 regular-season games and the Eastern Semi-Final in 2025 and has not missed a single contest since 2023, with 63 games – all as a Blue Bomber – now to his name.

Holm dressed for 47 games, starting 25, during his days with the Fighting Hawks and earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honours during his redshirt senior season (2020-21) and was named as an honourable mention to the MVFC All-Academic Team.  Holm was named UND's most-valuable defensive back in his junior season and as a freshman was named to the Big Sky All-Academic Team.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/06/blue-bombers-sign-all-cfl-halfback-evan-holm-to-two-year-contract-extension/

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Transactions:

2026-01-06   WPG   HOLM, Evan   DB   A   North Dakota   ADD   Active Roster