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

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers make Evan Holm CFL's highest-paid American DB
By John Hodge -January 8, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made Evan Holm the CFL's highest-paid American defensive back, per league sources.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the team on Tuesday, which included an $80,000 signing bonus. Holm will also receive $71,700 in salary, $15,300 in housing, $10,000 in marketing, and a $3,000 travel bonus. In total, he will earn $180,000 in hard money in 2026, plus up to $6,000 in all-star and awards incentives.

The second year of Holm's new contract includes $185,000 in hard money with $55,000 of the base salary guaranteed for 2027. The deal was negotiated by veteran agent Rob Fry.

Prior to this extension being signed, the two highest-paid defensive backs for the 2026 season were going to be Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Jamal Peters and Deatrick Nichols, who is Holm's teammate in Winnipeg. Both players will earn $175,000 this upcoming season with Nichols receiving a $60,000 signing bonus to return to the Blue Bombers.

Holm started 18 regular-season games at field-side halfback in 2025, earning his first All-CFL selection. He recorded 55 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, a team-high four interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

The five-foot-eleven, 185-pound defender has played 63 regular-season games over four seasons in Winnipeg, making 225 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles, seven interceptions, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/08/winnipeg-blue-bombers-make-evan-holm-cfls-highest-paid-american-db/

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Blue Bombers re-sign veteran linebacker Tanner Cadwallader
January 8, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract with Canadian linebacker Tanner Cadwallader.

He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.

Cadwallader (5-11, 216; Wilfrid Laurier University; born: June 24, 1997, in Georgetown, ON.) returns in 2026 for his sixth year with the Blue Bombers and following another season in which he was a steady presence on special teams, recording 14 tackles on the kick cover units – third most on the club after Michael Ayers (23) and Jaylen Smith (22).

Cadwallader, now 28, was selected by the Blue Bombers in the 7th round, 64th overall, in the 2020 Canadian Football League Draft and has not missed a single game since his rookie season in 2021 — suiting up for all 86 regular-season games and every playoff contest over that span.

He has finished second or third in special teams tackles for the club in each year from 2022-25 and his career total of 68 currently ranks 12th in club history – just four shy of moving into the Top 10.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/08/blue-bombers-re-sign-veteran-linebacker-tanner-cadwallader/

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Transactions:

2026-01-08   WPG   THOMAS, Jake   DL   N   Acadia   TRF TO RETIRED   Retired
2026-01-08   WPG   CADWALLADER, Tanner   LB   N   Wilfrid Laurier   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers cut Peyton Logan ahead of offseason bonus
By John Hodge -January 15, 2026

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released running back and returner Peyton Logan. He was due a $10,000 offseason roster bonus on January 15, sources have told 3DownNation.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract with Winnipeg in February worth around $110,000 per season. He suffered an injury early in training camp and dressed for only three regular-season games in 2025, recording one carry for minus-two yards, two catches for 10 yards, seven punt returns for 61 yards, and nine kickoff returns for 186 yards.

The native of Memphis, Tenn. started his CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders in 2022. Over three seasons with the team, he rushed for 889 yards, caught 42 passes for 274 yards, returned 69 kickoffs for 1,580 yards, returned 136 punts for 1,501 yards, and scored seven total touchdowns.

The five-foot-six, 190-pound speedster was a collegiate standout at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where he rushed for 2,513 yards, caught 86 passes for 727 yards, and scored 16 offensive touchdowns.

The Blue Bombers signed Logan to breathe life into a stagnant return game, though newcomer Trey Vaval ended up becoming a CFL sensation.

The 25-year-old was named the league's Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player after finishing first in punt return yards (957), missed field goal return yards (391), and kick return touchdowns (four). He also placed third in all-purpose yards (2,266) and fifth in kickoff return yards (918) for the 2025 season.

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/15/winnipeg-blue-bombers-cut-peyton-logan-ahead-of-offseason-bonus/

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Blue Bombers Transactions - January 15, 2026

WINNIPEG, MB., January 15, 2026 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has released American running back/returner Peyton Logan.

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Transactions:

2026-01-15   WPG   LOGAN, Peyton   RB   A   Tennessee Martin   DEL   Active Roster

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Blue Bombers re-sign receiver Gavin Cobb
January 16, 2026

WINNIPEG, Mb. – January 16, 2026 –The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian receiver Gavin Cobb.

Cobb (5-9, 170; University of Manitoba; born: January 28, 1998, in Victoria, B.C.) returns to the Blue Bombers in 2026 for his second season with the club and fourth in the Canadian Football League after spending the first two years of his career (2023-24) with the Edmonton Elks.

Cobb appeared in four regular season games with the Blue Bombers in 2025, plus the Eastern Semi-Final, including two starts. He finished the year with six catches for 51 yards, including four receptions for 44 yards in a win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on October 17th. He added two catches for 29 yards in the playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

A fourth-round selection, 30th overall, by the Elks in the 2022 CFL Draft, Cobb has now appeared in 33 CFL games, including 10 starts.

In his final season at Manitoba in 2021 Cobb pulled in 27 passes for 340 yards and five touchdowns while being named a Canada West All-Star as a kick returner after returning 27 punts for 250 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown against Alberta.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/16/blue-bombers-re-sign-receiver-gavin-cobb/

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Transactions:

2026-01-16   WPG   COBB, Gavin   WR   N   Manitoba   ADD   Active Roster
2026-01-16   WPG   Addison, Bryan   DB   A   UCLA   ADD   Active Roster