In a season that fell so far from expectations, relief was among a number of emotions for the Ottawa Redblacks with the season now over.
asserted
season → fall → Redblacks
The Redblacks went a franchise worst 1-17 as defensive co-ordinator Will Fields was fired on Aug. 1, vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke was let go on Aug. 17 and president Adrian Scarra no longer had his post by Aug. 23.
asserted
Scarra → go → Aug.
On the field, they had three different starting quarterbacks, with rookie Bryson Barnes picking up the lone win in a start against Toronto in Week 17.
asserted
Barnes → have → Week
They finished the season with 18 players on the six-game injured list and eight on the one-game IL.
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They → finish → IL
“You have a lot of emotions coming out of a season like this,” admitted receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who broke a CFL record with 1,834 kickoff return yards in a single season.
asserted
who → have → season
“You come out mad, you come out sad, you come out happy over the fact it’s over.”
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it → come → fact
Numerous players talked about it being a season like nothing previously experienced.
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it → talk → nothing
And yet, there remains optimism for what’s ahead.
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what → remain → ?
“No one wants to feel this feeling ever again,” said linebacker Nyles Morgan.
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Morgan → want → feeling
“With this type of season the upside is it’s only up from here, truly.
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it → ’ → season
And obviously, we want to be more than just up.
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we → want → ?
We want to be in a championship one day.”
asserted
We → want → championship
Morgan is set to become a free agent but said he would be interested in returning to Ottawa.
asserted
he → set → Ottawa
Earlier this week, the Redblacks announced the hiring of Mike Morreale as president.
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Redblacks → announce → president
Morreale has plenty of work ahead, not the least of which is considering his head coach and general manager.
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least → have → coach
Ryan Dinwiddie was signed to a three-year contract last season to the dual roles, in addition to being the offensive co-ordinator.
asserted
Dinwiddie → sign → addition
Dinwiddie was supposed to be the one to help kick-start the rebuild, but now Morreale needs to decide if he’s the right man to lead the charge.
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he → suppose → charge
While it’s early for self-reflection, Dinwiddie admitted there’s lots to look at including his play calling and management of the team and games.
asserted
Dinwiddie → ’ → team
“It starts today,” he said of his evaluation.
asserted
he → start → evaluation
“We’ve got to focus on things we can correct to get better.”
asserted
we → get → things
Dinwiddie said he and Morreale had lunch but it was more of an introduction for the two, and understands that when you go 1-17 everything will be evaluated.
asserted
everything → say → two
“I plan on being here,” said Dinwiddie.
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Dinwiddie → plan → ?
“I want to turn this thing around, right?
asserted
I → want → thing
I don’t want to be out of here and not have the opportunity to get one more shot at it.”
asserted
I → want → it
Dinwiddie bristled when asked if he felt he took on too many roles.
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he → bristle → roles
“I’ve been a co-ordinator and head for years, and I’ve been pretty darn good at it, right?”, said Dinwiddie.
asserted
Dinwiddie → say → it
“So I believe in that.
asserted
I → believe → that
But the GM title, you know, if they kind of change that, it’s not going to change my workload at all.
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it → know → workload
But you know I get that.
asserted
I → know → that
Decisions will need to be made on a number of players.
asserted
Decisions → need → players
In addition to Morgan, linebacker Lucas Cormier, veteran fullback Anthony Gosselin, quarterbacks Jake Maier and MacLeod Bethel-Thompson, and receiver Justin Hardy are just a few set to become free agents, as are offensive linemen Drew Desjarlais, Sean McEwen and Zack Pelehos.
asserted
Desjarlais → set → Morgan
Hardy is coming off his fourth consecutive 1,000-plus yard season.
asserted
Hardy → come → season
In his five years with the Redblacks, he’s only played in one playoff game.
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he → play → game
“I’m not saying no to anything,” admitted Hardy.
asserted
Hardy → say → anything
“I’ll get with my agent, listen to everybody and see where we go from there.”
asserted
we → get → everybody
Players believe the addition of Morreale is a good start and have faith the organization will put the work in to turn things around.
asserted
organization → believe → things
“The thing about the CFL is in a nine-team league you see teams turn around in a year or two,” said Cormier.
asserted
Cormier → see → year
Cormier added that Dinwiddie’s experience winning two Grey Cups also shouldn’t be overlooked.
asserted
experience → add → ?
“Those two things alone are two things that I think are pretty convincing to feel like things can change pretty quickly,” Cormier said.
asserted
Cormier → think → ?
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
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