Ottawa Renegades

Franchise establishment and return to Ottawa

The Ottawa Renegades were established in 2002, ending a six-year absence of CFL football in the city following the collapse of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1996. The new franchise aimed to reconnect with the city's football heritage, a sentiment reflected in its logo which drew similarities to the one used by the Rough Riders for much of their history up until 1992. The team took up residence at Frank Clair Stadium, the historic venue in Lansdowne Park that had long been the home of professional football in Ottawa. From their inaugural season, the Renegades faced the significant challenge of rebuilding fan interest and competitive credibility in a market that had experienced the disappointment of a previous franchise's failure. The team's operations were led by head coach Joe Paopao, who remained the only head coach to guide the Renegades throughout their entire four-year run, overseeing a roster that struggled to find consistency from the outset.

On-field performance and key players

During their four seasons of competition, the Ottawa Renegades compiled a record of failure to reach the postseason, finishing each year with a losing record and never finishing higher than fourth place in the East Division. The team's quarterback position saw considerable turnover, beginning with Dan Crowley as the first starting quarterback in 2002, with backups Chuck Clements and Oteman Sampson also seeing some starting time that season. The most significant and successful quarterback for the franchise was Kerry Joseph, who succeeded Crowley in 2003 and functioned as the primary starter for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Other quarterbacks who started games during the Renegades' tenure included Romaro Miller also starting in 2003, and backups Darnell Kennedy and Brad Banks also saw time as the starter in relief of Joseph during the 2004 and 2005 campaigns. Despite the lack of team success, several former Renegades players went on to achieve individual success elsewhere in the CFL, including becoming Grey Cup champions with other franchises, which demonstrated that the roster did contain professional talent.

Notable former Renegades players who later won Grey Cups include Korey Banks, Kerry Joseph, Yo Murphy, Marc Parenteau, and Markus Howell. As of the start of the 2018 CFL season, Kyries Hebert was the last active former Renegade player still on a CFL team roster. He is also the only former Renegade to have played for the Ottawa Redblacks. The players of the Ottawa Renegades were dispersed to the remaining eight CFL teams in a dispersal draft after the franchise was suspended.

• Korey Banks
• Kerry Joseph
• Yo Murphy
• Marc Parenteau
• Markus Howell

As of the start of the 2018 CFL season, Kyries Hebert was the last active former Renegade player still on a CFL team roster. He is also the only former Renegade to have played for the Ottawa Redblacks. The players of the Ottawa Renegades were dispersed to the remaining eight CFL teams in a dispersal draft. Former Renegades Korey Banks, Kerry Joseph, Yo Murphy, Marc Parenteau, and Markus Howell have also gone on to be Grey Cup champions.

Ownership turmoil and financial collapse

The franchise's stability was severely undermined by ownership and financial issues, culminating in its suspension. In May 2005, ownership of the team was assumed by Bernard Glieberman, a former owner of the Ottawa Rough Riders and the CFL USA's Shreveport Pirates, who installed his son Lonie Glieberman as team president. This period saw the return of several personnel from the Gliebermans' previous, unsuccessful football ventures, including an attempt to bring back kicker Björn Nittmo for the 2005 season despite him being almost 39 years old, severely brain-damaged, and out of football since 2001. The Glieberman tenure was marked by promotional efforts to attract fans, such as a September 2005 offer for free youth tickets with an adult purchase, but these could not stem the financial losses. The team lost $3.8 million in 2005, with projections indicating potential further losses of $2.3 million to $5.8 million for the 2006 season, creating an unsustainable financial model for the ownership group that had only recently taken control.

Facing these unsustainable losses, the organization requested financial assistance from the CFL, which the league declined to provide. On March 22, 2006, Bernie Glieberman decided to stop funding the team entirely, and Lonie Glieberman had resigned from day-to-day operations on March 3, 2006, acknowledging he made mistakes during his tenure. The CFL's board of governors, which had taken over operations of the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2003, decided against doing the same for the Renegades on April 9, 2006. Instead, the league chose to suspend the franchise indefinitely and seek a new owner while also moving its easternmost-West Division team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, back to the East Division to take Ottawa's place and balance the divisions, a move that had occurred twice before in Bombers history in 1987 and 1997.

Dispersal draft and immediate aftermath

Following the suspension of operations, the CFL conducted a dispersal draft to allocate the Ottawa Renegades players to the league's eight remaining teams. The draft was held on April 12, 2006, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders selecting quarterback Kerry Joseph as the first overall pick, a move that would later help them to a Grey Cup championship and validate Joseph's talent. This draft effectively ended the Renegades as a competitive entity and distributed its roster assets across the league, ensuring players had continuity in their careers despite the franchise's collapse. In the months that followed, several parties expressed interest in reviving the franchise, though none succeeded immediately due to the need for a stable ownership group and a viable stadium plan, which were both lacking at the time. In April 2006, Steelback Brewery president Frank D'Angelo publicly announced he was exploring opportunities to revive the team, but the CFL stated discussions with him had been only informal and no decision was made, highlighting the league's caution and desire for a more credible bid.

On May 15, 2007, the CFL announced that it had ended discussions with a group led by William Palmer regarding the return of a CFL team to Ottawa for the 2008 season. CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon stated that the CFL remained committed to the City of Ottawa and determined to return a franchise only at a time and under circumstances that would ensure strength and stability in the long run. In September 2007, the lower south side of Frank Clair Stadium was closed due to cracks in the concrete structure. Ottawa mayor Larry O'Brien was quoted at the time that this was an opportunity to do a review of the usage and the facilities of Lansdowne Park.

Revival as the Ottawa Redblacks

The indefinite suspension of the Renegades franchise ended on March 25, 2008, when the CFL awarded a new franchise to a group led by Jeff Hunt, the successful owner of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, who was best known for his stewardship of that junior hockey club. The agreement stipulated that the new team would not begin play until a suitable stadium solution was in place, which delayed its on-field return for several years as the Lansdowne Park redevelopment was planned and executed through a public-private partnership. The subsequent redevelopment of Lansdowne Park and the construction of a new stadium, later named TD Place, paved the way for the team's return for the 2014 CFL season, providing a modern facility for fans and players. The new franchise chose not to retain the Renegades name due to its association with the failed and financially troubled venture, and could not use the Rough Riders name because of objections from the Saskatchewan Roughriders franchise, which owned the trademark. Instead, the team was rebranded as the Ottawa Redblacks following a public naming process, and the CFL considers the Redblacks the modern continuation of Ottawa's professional football lineage, classifying them along with the Renegades and Rough Riders as one discontinuous franchise for historical record-keeping purposes that acknowledges the city's long football history.

Season-by-season record

The Ottawa Renegades played four seasons and never qualified for the playoffs. The team's only head coach was Joe Paopao. In May 2005, Bernard Glieberman took ownership of the team and made his son Lonie Glieberman team president. With the team losing 3.8 million dollars in 2005, the organization requested financial assistance from the CFL, which the league was not willing to provide.

The Ottawa Renegades played four seasons and never qualified for the playoffs. On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announced John Jenkins as head coach and General Manager for 2006, with Forrest Gregg serving as the team's Executive VP for football. However, this did not occur because of the suspension of the team's operations. On March 22, 2006, Bernie Glieberman decided to stop funding the Renegades.

Community engagement and promotions

Throughout their brief existence, the Ottawa Renegades organization made concerted efforts to connect with the community and build a fan base, particularly focusing on families and younger audiences in the National Capital Region. One notable promotion occurred in September 2005, when the team offered a free ticket to children aged 12 and under with every adult ticket purchased in advance for a Week 12 home game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, September 16. Team president Lonie Glieberman stated the promotion was aimed at making football affordable for families and sharing a football experience, explaining that with the fall season, they wanted a promotion centred around families and making it affordable for families to watch football together. The free tickets were allocated to Section C in the North stands of Frank Clair Stadium, and the team partnered with Sports Experts to provide temporary Renegades tattoos to kids on game day as part of the family theme to enhance the game-day experience for young fans.

Two of the key age groups the Renegades wanted to put an emphasis on that year were the Generation Y in the 16 28 bracket as well as the youth of Ottawa. The Renegades offices, located at 1015 Bank Street, remained open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. that week. The promotion was only available on advanced tickets and ended at 8 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, September 15. The promotion was not available on game day.

The coaching staff and football operations

The Ottawa Renegades' football operations were characterized by instability and a narrow window of leadership, with only one man serving as head coach during the team's active years on the field. Joe Paopao was the head coach for all four seasons from 2002 through 2005, tasked with building a competitive roster from the expansion draft and managing the team through its formative years against established CFL opponents. Following the 2005 season and the Gliebermans' assumption of control, the organization attempted a major restructuring of its football leadership in anticipation of the 2006 campaign in a bid to change the team's fortunes. On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announced John Jenkins as the new head coach and General Manager for the 2006 season, signalling a new direction for the franchise's on-field product and a departure from the Paopao era.

On November 7, 2005, the Ottawa Renegades announced John Jenkins as head coach and General Manager for 2006, with Forrest Gregg serving as the team's Executive VP for football. However, this did not occur because of the suspension of the team's operations. The team's only head coach was Joe Paopao. On March 3, 2006, Lonie Glieberman resigned from day to day operations of the team.

The franchise in limbo and path to revival

For two years following the April 2006 suspension, the Ottawa Renegades franchise existed in a state of limbo as the CFL sought a new owner who could provide the financial stability and stadium plan necessary for a successful return to the capital. The league's commitment was tested by several interested parties, including the very public but unsanctioned interest from Frank D'Angelo in 2006 and the more formal but ultimately failed discussions with the William Palmer group in 2007, which showed the difficulty of finding a suitable owner. Commissioner Mark Cohon's statement in May 2007 made clear the league's patience, indicating they would concentrate efforts on new opportunities and return a franchise only under the right circumstances that would prevent a repeat of the Renegades' failure. The stadium issue became a critical hurdle when the closure of part of Frank Clair Stadium in September 2007 forced a municipal review of Lansdowne Park's future, which serendipitously created the opportunity for a comprehensive redevelopment plan that would solve the venue problem for any future team.

The breakthrough came on March 25, 2008, when the CFL's board of governors awarded the dormant franchise to a consortium led by local sports entrepreneur Jeff Hunt, whose successful ownership of the Ottawa 67's demonstrated the community trust and business acumen the league required for a sustainable operation. The Hunt group's agreement included a condition that play would not resume until the Lansdowne Park revitalization, including a new stadium, was complete, which added a six-year gap between the franchise award and the first Redblacks game in 2014, ensuring the foundation was solid. This deliberate, structured approach stood in stark contrast to the rapid and underfunded launch of the Renegades in 2002, and was designed to ensure the long-term viability that had eluded the previous iteration through careful planning and significant public investment. The CFL's classification of the Redblacks, Renegades, and Rough Riders as one discontinuous franchise formally links all three entities in the official historical record of professional football in Ottawa, preserving the lineage from the 19th century to the present day despite the breaks in continuity.

Questions about Ottawa Renegades

Why did the Ottawa Renegades fail?

The Ottawa Renegades failed primarily due to severe financial instability and ownership issues. The team lost $3.8 million in the 2005 season alone, with forecasts predicting even greater losses of $2.3 million to $5.8 million for 2006. Owner Bernard Glieberman ceased funding the team in March 2006, and the Canadian Football League, unwilling to provide financial assistance or take over operations as it had for Toronto and Hamilton in 2003, suspended the franchise indefinitely in April 2006. A lack of on-field success, as the team never made the playoffs and finished last every year, also contributed to dwindling fan support and revenue, making the business model unsustainable for the Glieberman ownership group.

What happened to the Ottawa Renegades players?

Following the suspension of the franchise, the CFL held a dispersal draft on April 12, 2006, to allocate all Ottawa Renegades players to the league's eight other teams. The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected quarterback Kerry Joseph with the first overall pick, a move that proved fortuitous as Joseph later led them to a Grey Cup victory and was named the league's Most Outstanding Player. This process ensured that the players could continue their careers while effectively dissolving the Renegades' roster and distributing its talent across the CFL. Several former Renegades, including Joseph, Korey Banks, Yo Murphy, Marc Parenteau, and Markus Howell, went on to win Grey Cup championships with other CFL teams, proving the roster had quality players despite the team's poor record.

Are the Ottawa Renegades and Ottawa Redblacks the same team?

No, the Ottawa Renegades and Ottawa Redblacks are distinct franchises, but they are connected by the CFL's historical classification. The Renegades operated from 2002 to 2005 before being suspended. The league awarded a new franchise to Jeff Hunt in 2008, which began play in 2014 as the Ottawa Redblacks after the completion of TD Place stadium. The CFL considers the Redblacks, the Renegades, and the earlier Ottawa Rough Riders to be one discontinuous franchise for historical purposes, meaning they represent the ongoing lineage of professional football in Ottawa despite the changes in name, ownership, and the multi-year gaps in competition.

Where did the Ottawa Renegades play their home games?

The Ottawa Renegades played their home games at Frank Clair Stadium, located within Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, which was the traditional home for professional football in the city for decades. This was the same historic venue used by the previous Ottawa Rough Riders franchise, providing a sense of continuity for fans despite the new team name and ownership. In September 2007, after the Renegades' suspension, the lower south side of the stadium was closed due to structural cracks in the concrete, which prompted a major review and eventual redevelopment of the Lansdowne Park site. That redevelopment led to the construction of the new TD Place Stadium, which opened in 2014 as the home of the Ottawa Redblacks, replacing the aged facility.

Who was the last Ottawa Renegades player in the CFL?

As of the start of the 2018 CFL season, Kyries Hebert was the last active former Renegade player still on a CFL team roster. He is also the only former Renegade to have played for the Ottawa Redblacks. Several other former Renegades players, including Korey Banks, Kerry Joseph, Yo Murphy, Marc Parenteau, and Markus Howell, went on to become Grey Cup champions after the team's suspension. The Renegades franchise itself lasted only four seasons from 2002 to 2005 before being suspended by the league. Its players were then dispersed to other CFL teams through a draft, with quarterback Kerry Joseph being the first overall selection by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Why wasn't the Renegades name used when football returned to Ottawa?

The revived franchise did not retain the Renegades name because of its troubled financial history. The ownership group could not use the historic Ottawa Rough Riders name due to objections from the Saskatchewan Roughriders franchise. Consequently, the new team was rebranded as the Ottawa Redblacks when it began play in 2014. The Renegades' history was marked by instability, including significant financial losses and ownership issues under the Glieberman family. The Canadian Football League officially classifies the Redblacks, Renegades, and Rough Riders as one discontinuous franchise for historical purposes, linking the new team to Ottawa's football legacy while starting with a fresh identity.

Sources and further reading

• Ottawa Renegades (Wikipedia)
• Renegades reach out to youth with exciting offer (oursportscentral.com)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.