CFL Notebook
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce changes to the coaching staff for the 2026 Canadian Football League season. Tommy Condell has been named the Club’s new offensive coordinator, and Jake Thomas will be transitioning from his playing career to become the team’s defensive line coach, replacing retiring coach Darrell Patterson. Jason Hogan will return in 2026 as the Club’s running backs coach, a role he previously held from 2022-2024.
Condell joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last two years as the offensive coordinator with the Ottawa Redblacks and brings 15 years of Canadian Football League coaching experience with five different teams.
Condell began his CFL career with the Blue Bombers in 1997 as the special teams coordinator on Jeff Reinebold’s staff and has experience in the league with the Ottawa Renegades (2004-05), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2006), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2014-15; 2020-23), Toronto Argonauts (2017-18) and Redblacks (2024-25).
(Blue Bombers Communications)
AROUND THE CFL
American defensive back Benjie Franklin has re-signed with the Toronto Argonauts as CFL teams across the league shore up their rosters.
Franklin returns to Toronto after hitting career highs in tackles (60) and interceptions (four) over 18 games for the Argos last season.
The 29-year-old Tarleton State alum has played all three of his CFL seasons for Toronto, amassing 123 defensive tackles, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles, three special teams tackles, one sack and one touchdown.
The Argos have also resigned Canadian linebacker Jack Cassar, who contributed seven special teams tackles, two defensive tackles and one forced fumble across 12 games in 2025.
The 28-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., has won two Grey Cups over his five seasons in Toronto.
Toronto has also added American offensive lineman Rush Reimer to the roster.
The six-foot-five, 304-pound University of California product signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in May and was released by the team at the end of August.
Elsewhere in the league, American defensive lineman Caleb Sanders signed an extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday.
The 25-year-old defensive tackle logged a career-high 13 defensive tackles in 16 regular-season appearances for the Riders last year, then played in the West Division final and the Grey Cup, helping Saskatchewan to the championship.
Over three seasons with the Roughriders, Sanders has tallied 26 defensive tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble.
The six-foot-one, 287-pound South Dakota State University product began his pro career in the NFL, attending rookie camp with the New York Giants after the 2023 NFL draft, then spending training camp that year with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he got into one pre-season game.
Saskatchewan also signed global defensive lineman Sylvain Yondjouen after the native of Ruisbroek, Belgium was signed to the team’s practice roster in August.
The B.C. Lions announced Monday that they have signed Canadian defensive lineman Nathan Cherry to a two-year extension.
Cherry was eligible to become a free agent on Feb. 10.
The six-foot-one, 271-pound lineman enters his fifth season with the team after playing in all 18 of B.C.’s games in 2025, making four defensive tackles.
He added three tackles in two Grey Cup playoff appearances.
Selected third overall in the 2022 CFL Draft, the Saskatoon native made 28 appearances over his first three seasons with 15 defensive tackles, two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Cherry suited in up 41 games with the Saskatchewan Huskies from 2016-21.
Along with winning Hardy Cups in 2018 and 2019, he registered 46 total tackles (28 solo, 18 assisted), 10 sacks and a fumble recovery. Cherry capped his U Sports career by earning First-Team All-Canadian in 2021.
The Edmonton Elks were busy on Monday, inking seven players to new deals.
American quarterback Zach Zebrowski is back with the team after spending the last two months of the 2025 campaign on Edmonton’s practice roster, and wide receiver Justin McGriff returns after an ACL injury kept him out for the regular season.
The Elks also signed American receivers J.J. Jones and Justin Lockhard, national receivers Kolby Hurford and Jackson Tachinski, and national offensive lineman Domenico Piazza.
(CP)
