Ottawa Redblacks name former CFL star Mike Morreale as new president

OTTAWA · The Ottawa Redblacks have named former CFL slotback Mike Morreale as their new club president. The 55-year-old Hamilton native was announced to the role on Tuesday, taking over a franchise that has won just one of its 17 regular-season games this year. Morreale will lead a review of football operations and establish a permanent football leadership structure for the team. He will also be tasked with developing a long-term football and business plan to guide the club's priorities.

"I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity, and I understand the responsibility that comes with it," said Morreale. "This is about more than building a team that can win. It's about building an organization that can compete for championships and give people in Ottawa a reason to feel connected to and proud of the Redblacks." He added that his focus will be on making the decisions needed to build an organization that leads to success on and off the field.

Mark Goudie, the president and CEO of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, said fans have every right to expect more from the Redblacks. "Mike has two clear jobs: Build a football organization capable of competing for championships and reconnect this team with Ottawa," Goudie said. "When this club was at its best, this city felt part of it. We need to earn that back."

READ MORE: Redblacks face uncertain offseason after franchise-worst 1-17 campaign

READ MORE: Bryson Barnes leads Ottawa Redblacks to first win, snaps 22-game losing streak

Morreale succeeds Adrian Sciarra, who transitioned out of the role of team president in August. The Redblacks are concluding a dismal 2026 campaign, having just snapped a 22-game losing streak across two seasons with a 40-39 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last Friday. They will play their final game of the season on Saturday afternoon against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Jim Popp, a former CFL general manager, joined the Redblacks in August as a senior football adviser. Ryan Dinwiddie is completing his first season as Ottawa's head coach and general manager, while also serving as the club's offensive coordinator. Morreale's mandate includes strengthening the team's approach to identifying, recruiting and developing players.

In his playing career, Morreale spent 12 CFL seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, winning Grey Cups in 1996 and 1999. He was named the league's Most Outstanding Canadian in 1998 and received the Tom Pate Memorial Award in 2000 for his contributions to his team, community and the CFL Players' Association. He registered 509 career catches for 6,649 yards and 24 touchdowns in 216 regular-season games. Following his retirement, Morreale served with the CFL Players' Association as its marketing director from 2007 to 2012 and as its president from 2012 to 2014. He co-founded the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2017 and served as its inaugural commissioner until he left that post in October 2025.

With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and CBC News