Blue Bombers re-sign CFL’s top Canadian RB Brady Oliveira to 2-year extension

Winnipeg also inked WR Dalton Schoen to new contract

Brady Oliveira is sticking with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 2023 CFL rushing leader agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with the Blue Bombers on Tuesday. The 26-year-old from Winnipeg was eligible to become a free agent next week.

Financial details weren’t divulged but according to TSN, Oliveira will earn $230,000 this season and $240,000 in 2025.

The five-foot-10, 222-pound Oliveira ran for 1,534 yards last season in being named the CFL’s top Canadian and finalist for its outstanding player award.

The Oak Park product’s rushing total was the second-most by a Canadian in league history behind Calgary’s Jon Cornish (1,813 yards in 2013).

Oliveira also led the CFL in yards from scrimmage (2,016) and touchdowns (13). He recorded a league-leading seven 100-yard rushing games while setting career highs in rushing, receptions (38) and receiving yards (482).

Oliveira recorded his first 1,000-rushing campaign in 2022 when he ran for 1,001 yards.

Winnipeg selected Oliveira in the second round, No. 14 overall, of the 2019 CFL draft. He will return for a fifth season with his hometown team.

The Bombers have reached the Grey Cup game in each of the last four years, winning in 2019 and 2021 before losing the next two years, including a 28-24 loss to Montreal last November.

Oliveira has appeared in 51 regular-season games with the Bombers, accumulating 2,970 yards rushing, 70 receptions for 808 yards and 20 total touchdowns.

Schoen returning to Winnipeg in 2024

Later on Tuesday,  the Bombers announced they’d agreed to terms with receiver Dalton Schoen on a one-year deal. Schoen, the CFL’s top rookie in 2022, has registered 141 catches for 2,663 yards and 26 TDs over his two CFL seasons in Winnipeg.

Financial details of Schoen’s agreement also weren’t divulged but he’ll reportedly earn $230,000 in 2024. Like Oliveira, Schoen was eligible to become a free agent next week.

But it wasn’t all good news on the free agency front for the Bombers.

Cornerback Demerio Houston, who led the CFL with seven interceptions and 10 defensive takeaways last season, agreed in principle to a two-year contract with Calgary. According to an anonymous league source, Houston’s deal is worth over $275,000, making him one of the league’s highest-paid defensive backs.