Brady Oliveira has signed a contract extension to remain with the Blue Bombers; photos by Cameron Bartlett
It would have made for an incomprehensible scenario — not just incomprehensible but totally unacceptable, really — especially to football fans in these parts.
Yes, the very notion of seeing Brady Oliveira in his trademark #20 jersey bulldozing would-be tacklers in any other uniform but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might very well have had the club’s faithful storming the offices on Chancellor Matheson Road with pitchforks and torches in a unified protest.
Well, save your angst people, for the hometown face of the franchise is staying put after signing a three-year contract extension that will keep him in the Blue Bombers backfield through the 2028 Canadian Football League season.
Oliviera will meet with the media Tuesday and, in the meantime, here are 5 reasons everyone in Bomber Nation is positively thrilled to have him back…
THE ‘O TRAIN’ KEEPS CHUGGING
No back in the CFL has consistently churned out more yards over the last four years than Oliveira with him posting four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons — including two league rushing titles.
Since becoming the team’s feature back in 2022 after taking over from Andrew Harris, Oliveira has cranked out 5,051 rushing yards, an average of 1,262.75 yards per season.
His 1,163 yards rushing in 2025 was the third-highest total of his career, even after missing three games — two while being injured and a third as he was rested for the playoffs — while playing all but one series in the season opener before getting hurt.
His four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaigns is also second only in franchise history to Charles Roberts, who rushed for over 1,000 yards six consecutive times from 2002-07.
CEILING NOT YET REACHED
HIGHLY DECORATED
Oliveira was named the Blue Bombers’ Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian for a third straight season in both award categories in 2025.
He was the CFLs Most Outstanding Player in 2024 and a runner-up to the award in 2023 and has been the league’s top Canadian in each of the last two years.
Since the award’s inception in 1956, only three players have been named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player more times than Oliveira’s three, with Charles Roberts, Dieter Brock and Leo Lewis each being saluted four times.
RUSHING UP THE ALL-TIME CHARTS
Just six years into his career, Oliveira is already sixth on the Blue Bombers all-time rushing list with 5,480 yards, having passed both Fred Reid (4,505) and Andrew Harris (5,402) this past season.
He now trails only Roberts (9,987), Leo Lewis (8,861), Willard Reaves (5,923), Jim Washington (5,736) and Gerry James (5,541) on the club’s all-time rushing list.
PRIDE IN HOMETOWN
Oliveira has always proudly waved the flag for his hometown and his hometown team. Now that marriage continues with both parties content with a new agreement.
Again, he’ll speak with the media tomorrow, but here’s what he said at his season-ending press conference last month — a statement which is telling now that he’s inked a new deal:
“Everyone knows the last number of years here have been amazing. Playing for my hometown, it’s been incredible. I have nothing but good things to say about my time here, and would I love to be back? Absolutely. But I think I owe it to myself to sit down with my agent and OTG Sports (his management firm) and to talk to my family and see what the best scenario and situation is for me.
“I know what I can bring and I know I’m a calibre player that can help a team win a championship, so I want to put myself in the best situation to win a championship. This is why I play this game. I don’t play it for none of the awards or any of that stuff, I play it to win a Grey Cup. So, I’m going to put myself in the best situation.
“Would I love to be back? I love playing for my hometown. Playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has been a dream come true for myself.”
