Bombers’ Holm becomes highest paid American DB in CFL with two-year extension

Evan Holm arrived in Winnipeg back in 2022 without fanfare.

Bombers release Kolankowski, re-sign Schmekel; Jackson signs with Stamps

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released their starting centre.

The club cut pending free agent Chris Kolankowski on Monday, allowing the 33-year-old to hit the open market early. He was slated to become a free agent on Feb. 10.

Kolankowski started every game over the last three seasons for the Bombers, and appeared in 73 contests — making 69 starts — overall since arriving in 2020. He won the 2021 Grey Cup with the Blue and Gold as a backup.

Kolankowski’s departure adds to the mystery around what the Bombers’ offensive line will look like next season. Tui Eli —the club’s sixth offensive lineman in 2025 — re-signed before the calendar flipped, while starting left guard Gabe Wallace and right tackle Kendall Randolph are already under contract, but the most veteran starters, Stanley Bryant and Patrick Neufeld, remain unsigned.

Condell aware of importance of run game to Bombers offence

Tommy Condell has not made a name for himself in the CFL by running the football.

In nearly 11 years as an offensive co-ordinator in the three-down loop, he’s never once had a running back finish top three in rushing. To further add to that, his tailbacks have finished outside the top 10 in ground yards in half of those seasons.

That’s not going to fly in Winnipeg with running back Brady Oliveira making around $300,000 per year through 2028.

So, when Condell — who was officially announced as the new OC of the Bombers on Monday — sat down on Zoom with reporters on Tuesday, there was one obvious question: is his style the right fit for the Blue and Gold?

Move to D-line coach natural for lifelong Bomber Thomas

Jake Thomas wasn’t planning on retiring.

The 35-year-old defensive tackle expressed in his exit interview with head coach Mike O’Shea that he was interested in strapping on a helmet for a 14th season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Then, a few weeks later, a new opportunity presented itself. Defensive line coach Darrell Patterson had informed the club he was retiring after five seasons in the role, leaving O’Shea with a vacancy on his staff that needed to be filled.

He floated the idea by Thomas, and the rest, as they say, is history.