Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
The Ottawa Redblacks have hired Ryan Dinwiddie as their head coach and general manager, signing him to a three-year contract through 2028.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Dinwiddie to our organization as head coach and general manager,” said team president Adrian Sciarra in a statement.
“Ryan is a proven winner, with a track record of developing players and leading successful teams. His vision, leadership and competitiveness make him the right person to partner with Shawn Burke in leading our football club.”
The 44-year-old spent the last five seasons as the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, going 51-35 in the regular-season. The team first in the East Division standings three times during Dinwiddie’s tenure and won two Grey Cups.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Ottawa Redblacks as head coach and general manager,” said Dinwiddie. “This is a proud organization with passionate fans and a strong foundation to build on. I’m looking forward to working with Shawn to build our football club and to create a winning culture here in the nation’s capital with the goal of bringing sustained success and a Grey Cup back to Ottawa.”
Shawn Burke, Ottawa’s general manager, will remain with the team as the vice-president of football operations. He has also signed an extension through 2028.
“Ryan brings a tremendous football mind and a competitive drive that fits perfectly with what we want in Ottawa,” said Burke. “He’s shown he can get the most out of his players and staff and we’re confident his experience will have an immediate impact on our organization.”
The Redblacks fired head coach Bob Dyce late last month after the club finished at the bottom of the East Division standings with a 4-14 record. The club went 18-39-1 in a little over three years with Dyce at the helm, an arrangement that started on an interim basis after the firing of Paul LaPolice.
The Ottawa Redblacks finished fourth in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Dru Brown went 2-7 over nine starts at quarterback, throwing for 2,389 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Dustin Crum went 2-4 over six starts, throwing for 1,771 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Redblacks ranked sixth in net offence, fifth in net defence, and ninth with a turnover differential of minus-16. The club’s leading rusher was William Stanback with 698 yards, leading receiver was Justin Hardy with 1,019 yards, and leading tackler was Adarius Pickett with 84 tackles. Ottawa finished eighth in attendance with average crowds of 18,136, which was a 4.2 percent decrease from the previous year.
