‘Let’s go win some football games’ Bombers’ Oliveira ‘extremely happy’ to ink three-year extension By: Taylor Allen Posted: 5:53 PM CST Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 Last Modified: 9:14 PM CST Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025 Updates

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This article was published 16/12/2025 (297 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While Brady Oliveira fielded questions about his new three-year deal Tuesday afternoon, his six-year-old golden retriever Gunnar — sporting a Winnipeg Blue Bombers bandana — made its way around the media room for head scratches.

“I wanted to bring all four of my dogs but decided it would be a little too chaotic with the four,” said Oliveira, who also brought his friend with paws to the stadium on Monday when he officially put pen to paper.

“Alex (Blumberg, his girlfriend) and I chatted and she said, ‘Bring Gunnar, he’s a good boy.’ He’s mature and he was the star of the show yesterday… I feel like it was only right to bring him to the presser today.”

The Bombers made it loud and clear that they view the 28-year-old running back from Winnipeg as the star of their show. They wasted no time getting a deal done and made him an offer — a three-year extension that pays $290,000 in 2026, then $300,000 in both 2027 and 2028 — he couldn’t refuse.

Most CFL contracts are for one or two years, but Oliveira pushed hard for a third and viewed it as non-negotiable.

“I love this city, I love Winnipeg, I love this organization, and for me to be here for another three years playing for my hometown, I’ve said it before, it’s like a dream come true.”

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to get a deal done as quickly as we did. I thought I was going to go into the new year (unsigned),” admitted Oliveira.

“Obviously, I was a lot happier with the way it played out. Getting this deal done before Christmas is like an early Christmas present for myself and for my family. So, I’m extremely happy about that. And I think just how negotiations went, it was extremely seamless this time around. Winnipeg showed a lot of respect right off the jump with this and made it very easy to make this thing work. I love this city, I love Winnipeg, I love this organization, and for me to be here for another three years playing for my hometown, I’ve said it before, it’s like a dream come true.”

Oliveira has already established himself as an all-time great in Bomberland. He became the first Winnipegger to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award (2024) and is also a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Canadian (2023 and 2024). He ranks sixth in franchise history with 5,480 career rushing yards, and is coming off another impressive campaign where he churned out 1,163 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while setting career highs in receiving with 61 catches for 546 yards.

Three more years of similar production — and perhaps a championship — and he will further cement himself as one of the best to ever wear Blue and Gold.

“Yeah, I’d be lying to you to say I didn’t think about that. At practices, during games, pre-games, do I look up at the Ring of Honour? Absolutely. Every single practice I look up at the Ring of Honour and think maybe one day that could be me. That’d be very special,” said Oliveira.

“But still got a lot of work to do and I’m excited about that. Three more years in Winnipeg. And I still think after that, the way I take care of myself, I think I can still keep going. So I would say the future’s bright.”

Oliveira let it be known in his end of season media availability that he wanted to put himself in the best possible position to compete for a Grey Cup. It’s too early to tell if he did that by re-signing with the Bombers as the team still has over 30 pending free agents.

It also remains to be seen who will be wearing the offensive co-ordinator headset after Jason Hogan struggled in his first year in the role. The Bombers interviewed Toronto Argonauts quarterbacks coach (now head coach) Mike Miller and former Ottawa Redblacks playcaller Tommy Condell last month for the OC gig.

“I’ll say this: obviously I trust this organization. Obviously, seeing (head coach Mike O’Shea) sign back and (general manager) Kyle (Walters) sign back, I trust this organization. We’ve been very successful for the last number of years so I put full trust in their hands,” said Oliveira.

“But I’ve had a lot of great conversations over the last number of weeks with key guys that I think are massive parts of this organization and that helps us win games… Hopefully, it’s a trickle effect of me signing and hopefully we get some other key pieces to sign.”

Oliveira was already the highest paid tailback in the CFL in 2025 with his $240,000 salary. Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette was a distant second at $160,000.

“I think I’ve shown to be consistent and productive week in and week out year after year after year.”

Oliveira undoubtedly earned a raise, and after the Montreal Alouettes signed Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot to a deal worth $275,000 two weeks ago, it was obvious the Oak Park High School product was going to get an even higher number.

With that said, as great as Oliveira has been, it can be argued that the Bombers paid a premium for a position that many don’t consider one of the most important on the field.

“I think you need to stop paying players based off position but paying players off production,” countered Oliveira.

“I think I’ve shown to be consistent and productive week in and week out year after year after year.”

Oliveira is home for the holidays but will fly to Bali in January with Blumberg for three months to train out of Nirvana Life Fitness and Wellness Club and, of course, go on countless dog rescue missions.

The motivation for him this winter is simple: do what he can to get the Bombers back into the winner’s circle.

“Obviously, the way it ended last year — that (East semifinal) loss in Montreal — is still a memory that I think about to this day and you bring that with you throughout the off-season,” said Oliveira.

“The hard days in the gym. You wake up in the morning and you don’t want to run. You think about those times and you want those results to be different. So, I’ll put the work in and come ready to work for training camp in May and let’s go win some football games.”

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