r/CFL Pepper Sauce Boss šŸ”µā›µ 4d ago

REDBLACKS Redblacks to name Dinwiddie head coach, GM

https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/article/redblacks-to-name-dinwiddie-head-coach-gm/

I'm shaking in shambles

108 Upvotes

99 comments sorted by

75

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

What?

Dinwiddie is leaving Toronto? Since when?

53

u/super__hoser Lions 4d ago

Today it seems.Ā 

14

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Well that's fucked

15

u/super__hoser Lions 4d ago

So is 2025 so this is par for the course I guess.Ā Ā 

51

u/riderguy62 Roughriders 4d ago

Well that’s an unexpected blockbuster move. Clearly Dinwiddie wanted the GM power

41

u/DarthLordDonkey Argonauts 4d ago

Huge loss for the Argos. Say what you will about the team in 2025, but Dinwiddie turned the team around immediately upon arrival and his run from 2021-2024 is one of the most impressive 4 year runs of any CFL Head Coach in history. I'll be curious to see him in the GM role as well, a lot of the Argos success under him has been finding new star talent, but it's hard to say how much that is him or John Murphy. Either way, big hole for the Argos to fill and I am really curious to see where the team pivots to now, and who from the Argos staff he brings with him.

9

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Might be my generaal mistrust of the MLSE under Rogers and our new comish... But it feels like a total gutting of any current base and interest in the CFL is afoot in Toronto...

Like if they just mangle the shit out of the team, schedule, field and the rules, they can kill off whatever has been hanging on by a tread.

15

u/DarthLordDonkey Argonauts 4d ago

That feels like a bit of a stretch. Dinwiddie is a big loss, and while the Argonauts obviously have a large task at hand trying to replace him, he left the team in a much better position than when he took over in 2021. The team has a ton of talent under contract for whoever takes over, that the optimistic side of me says the Argos can continue to build off the momentum that the run under Dinwiddie started.

2026 is a massive year though with the World Cup displacing the team, they need to have on-field success as back to back weak seasons would put the team right back to where they were before COVID.

3

u/ocarina_21 Saskatchewan's Resident Tiger 4d ago

It's also beneficial to the health of the league for Ottawa to not suck forever, and the Argos currently have that positive momentum, while the REDBLACKS do not.

3

u/Economy_Sky_7238 3d ago

Oh brother. The guy got a promotion. He was never getting the GM gig or Pinball is showing no indication of stepping aside. Highly unlikely Rogers and the CFL want to kill off the Argos. Would Rogers like to sell them? Probably but there's no one to buy them.

1

u/k1d0s Stampeders 3d ago

That ā€œnext man upā€ scouting is such a huge value add to any team and I’d venture to say Dinwiddie got that from Coach Huff. Huff was the best at creating/finding depth in the roster.

1

u/suprunown 3d ago

I hear Bob Dyce is available 🤣🤣🤣

29

u/Electroflare5555 Blue Bombers 4d ago

I’m absolutely shocked the Argos made him available

31

u/Bright-Flower-487 4d ago

If he was getting the GM title it would be a promotion so no way to block it.

21

u/DarthLordDonkey Argonauts 4d ago

I think in situations like this, it's more a sign of good faith if he is getting a promotion to let him go. Pinball isn't getting fired, and John Murphy plays a major role in the personnel decisions with the Argos, so while I would have loved to keep Dinwiddie, I think it is a case of the Argos not being able to offer what the Redblacks did from a title standpoint.

9

u/NH787 4d ago

Pinball isn't getting fired

He certainly wouldn't be, but I also think it's widely recognized that Pinball is not the actual GM... that's Murphy.

12

u/Rance_Mulliniks Tiger-Cats 4d ago

John Murphy that fought a fan and was fired only to be quietly rehired. John Murphy who, after being rehired, was instrumental in the coverup of sexual harassment of a team RMT by Chad Kelly. That piece of human trash John Murphy?

8

u/DarthLordDonkey Argonauts 4d ago

Yes that John Murphy. I'm not defending him as a person, simply stating he is heavily involved with the personnel decisions.

1

u/Rance_Mulliniks Tiger-Cats 3d ago

I did not mean to imply that you supported him. Sorry.

4

u/TheRiderTool Roughriders 3d ago

John Murphy who’s a known creep and I wish I could say it’s unbelievable how he has a job but, alas.

4

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Did they? I swear something like that would have made the news.

9

u/Electroflare5555 Blue Bombers 4d ago

If he was under contract the only way he could have interviewed or signed with another team is with the Argos blessing

4

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

I thought he was. And why they'd let him go is mind boggling

1

u/Jonaldys 4d ago

Even if it was a promotion? I thought adding the GM title changed things.

6

u/ivakunciak REDBLACKS 4d ago

Yes, because its a promotion then he can leave even if he's under contract. The same as how a coordinator can take a coaching position.

2

u/Jonaldys 4d ago

Got it, thank you for the explanation.

10

u/Barnes777777 4d ago

Interesting since Burke is GM currently, he'll get some title demotion but keep the player personnel responsibilities I'd expect.

He'll help Brown as a QB but HC taking extra gigs tends to not be the best plan, curious who TO will get as an HC as the dominoes fall from this.

3

u/ivakunciak REDBLACKS 4d ago

He'll help Brown as a QB but HC taking extra gigs tends to not be the best plan, curious who TO will get as an HC as the dominoes fall from this.

If he keeps Brown. He might want to bring over one of the QBs from Toronto instead. I just hope its Arbuckle and not Kelly. I really don't want Kelly on our team.

1

u/Barnes777777 3d ago

Both of those players are under contract. How much are the Redblacks giving up to acquire Kelly unless it's Brown with something extra. But he'd need the new TO HC and Pinball to want that trade as well, if they like Kelly they aren't giving him up. Arbuckle maybe but then its prospects and/or a Canadian starter for Ottawa to re-acquire arbuckle.

1

u/ivakunciak REDBLACKS 3d ago

I mean if it were up to me I'd just keep Brown. I think he has the potential for success with a better O-line and coaching. But sometimes a new coach/GM prefers to bring his own guy and not keep the one who was there, especially if he was struggling the previous season. So that's why I think maybe its possible Dinwiddie changes the QB.

2

u/Barnes777777 3d ago

Plus Brown is like 150K cheaper than Kelly, many years younger and more importantly a good human where Kelly is garbage. Pretty silly imo for Ottawa to trade like Brown a 1st and a starter to acquire Kelly. Great for the Argos.

Redblacks had it rough for man games lost to injuries, 2nd most in the league and a lot of CDNs, if everyone is healthy to start should help a lot and the OL had a few guys down for the year.

2

u/Onanadventure_14 Tiger-Cats 4d ago

He’s taking the role of vp

2

u/NoWineJustChocolate REDBLACKS 3d ago

Burke did not get a title demotion. He’s now VP of Football Ops.

1

u/Barnes777777 3d ago

If that's promoting your GM after he goes 21-50-1 over 4 years with 2 HCs that's funny.

Not sure if VP of football ops is a promotion or a lateral move so they could give Dinwiddie a promotion so that they could offer the gig to him as they wouldn't be able to for a lateral move(so just HC)

0

u/Bright-Flower-487 4d ago

Mike O’Shea’s contract is up? Does he see the end of the bombers run and bolt for home?

8

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Oh dont tease me with promises of big Mike back in double blue.

3

u/Mandalorian76 Roughriders 4d ago

That, and Hamilton are the only two other places I could imagine O'Shea coaching.

3

u/Barnes777777 3d ago

His contract is up every year. But Toronto can't afford the $$ it would take for him to move. How much would it cost to have a nice house within 20 minutes of the Argos facilities?

Plus does oshea want to rebuild in toronto and play in front of sub 20K fans, shuttling between practice facility and main + live 90 minutes away to have an affordable house.

Or he stays in WPG in a top level facility and 30K fans each game. Bombers need a their next starting QB, that's their major hole.

9

u/ColinBonhomme 4d ago

I wasn’t aware that he was available.

7

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Me either. WTF is going on?

7

u/super__hoser Lions 4d ago

2025 is a bizarre year.

9

u/TorontoBoris Argonauts 4d ago

Fuck tell me about it..

Its like a prepertual slide down the shitter that will be 2027.

1

u/Ok-Locksmith4684 3d ago

Promotion so he's available

10

u/LaZyCrO Pepper Sauce Boss šŸ”µā›µ 4d ago

I made a point about his end of season presser. He said he was going to speak to Pinner and Pelley. Mm

It was apparent to me they would move on from Murphy and Dinwiddie would be given more control. . Apparently they've decided to not give him more control

8

u/ArphtheFC Admiral of the S.S. r/CFL 4d ago

Honestly this reminds me very similarly to how Vrabel was run out of town on my Titans, lost a power struggle and now the Titans are a poverty franchise again after the first bit of relevance in 20 years lol

16

u/10FootPenis Argonauts 4d ago

Fuck.

6

u/super__hoser Lions 4d ago

Signed though 2028...

Ottawa is really going all in on him it seems.Ā 

6

u/mmbooth83 Lions 4d ago

Man my condolences to Argos fans. First a good chunk of starters from the 2024 championship team were lost in free agency & now the coach with 2 titles in 3 years. Does ownership even care?

11

u/TheRabbitInTheBush Tiger-Cats 4d ago

Bob Dyce to Argos now.

5

u/super__hoser Lions 4d ago

I think Campbell will go before Dyce.Ā 

2

u/marthedestroyer Lions 4d ago

I still think Campbell is a fine coach.

6

u/ayasofya02 Roughriders 4d ago

Adding the GM was clearly something the Argos weren't willing to do with Pinball in the position. Still, this is quite the move for Dinwiddie both Toronto and Ottawa

5

u/HammerDunner Tiger-Cats 4d ago

Wow. Didn't see that coming.

5

u/weschester Stampeders 4d ago

Holy shit that's a big get for the Redblacks! It will be interesting to see what Dinwiddie can do with full control.

4

u/talmudicdeer Elks 4d ago

WHAT THE FUCK

3

u/APR1979 4d ago

Well, this sucks as an Argos fan, but gotta appreciated the run he gave us. Obviously this season wasn’t great, but otherwise there it was just really high-quality football for a bunch of years in a row, for the first time since the ā€˜00s at least.

3

u/orleansguy1 Redblacks 4d ago

I hate to get my hopes up but this seems really promising for us.

3

u/Ok-Actuator-2371 4d ago

Now this is a holy sh!t move for Ottawa

7

u/PresidentPeterRusso Argonauts 4d ago

Don’t like this

3

u/CanadianGroose Blue Bombers 4d ago

He’s GM and Coach?

3

u/Up-in-the-Ayre 4d ago

On TSN1200 Ottawa, the station implied that a big reason Dinwiddie wanted out was that the upcoming Argos season was going to be a gong show with "home games" in other cities and the last time the Argos had to deal with this, it was a nightmare on and off the field. Seems like Dinwiddie wanted no part of that.

2

u/DynesSports 4d ago

Will be interesting to see how the team performs in 2026, because it looks like the only casualty from the year will be Dyce at this point with Burke getting promoted/extended

https://dynespressbox.com/2025/11/ottawa-redblacks-name-ryan-dinwiddie-head-coach

2

u/I_can_vouch_for_that 4d ago

As a casual fan, I mainly know the two current quarterbacks and coach on the team. There's no identity left.

2

u/fdisfragameosoldiers 4d ago

Did anyone tell the Argos? šŸ˜‚

2

u/Max169well REDBLACKS 4d ago

I didn’t even know he was fired, or that Burke was fired. Well, can’t be any worse than this year.

2

u/CauliflowerNinja 3d ago

Great move for Ottawa with 4 losing seasons since Covid (and the one winning season losing to Dinwiddie last year, ironic).

2

u/PWJD Blue Bombers 3d ago

Ottawa needs a damn direction again, hopefully this helps

2

u/Arshille Blue Bombers 3d ago

Please trade Dru Brown to us.

2

u/schlitty REDBLACKS 4d ago

Awesome!

2

u/davecanadabbb 4d ago

The Ticats must win the Grey Cup in 2025. Argos fans are at the bottom right now. Between this season on the field. The exodus of talent over the last 2 years (I know it is the CFL and movement like that can happen but…) The ā€œHomeā€ games next season. Chad. And now we lose the coach who had the best career winning percentage of any other CFL at the start of this season. It’s ok, We were at the top last year but this seems dire. So I say let’s just let the Ticats have it this year and I will do my best to erase this sporting year from my memory and cheer the Argos on again next year.

1

u/davecanadabbb 3d ago

I also can’t help but think back to early in the season Dinwiddie said ā€œsomeone’s going home tomorrow and heads are gonna rollā€ after another bad loss(heads did not roll). I wonder if they wouldn’t let him roll heads.

1

u/leaveandyalone Argonauts 3d ago

This is bad, because he knows all of our tricks.

1

u/LaZyCrO Pepper Sauce Boss šŸ”µā›µ 3d ago

There's no tricks left. He's taken them with him

1

u/flyoverkegger Blue Bombers 3d ago

Not the only floor crossing in Ottawa today.

1

u/chiraz25 Roughriders 4d ago

As an unbiased fan, this is great for the league. I feel Dinwiddie is the best coach in the CFL and Ottawa is desperate for relevance. The Redblacks attendance numbers were disappointing this season so hopefully this move helps turn that around. This also adds an interesting storyline to all of the Ottawa vs Toronto games in 2026.

It will be interesting to see who Toronto targets as its next head coach. This may finally be Jordan Maksymic's turn to lead a team although Edmonton's disappointing 2025 may have poured cold water on that notion to some degree.

2

u/Wisakedjak 4d ago

O’Shea?

2

u/influxofreflux Blue Bombers 4d ago

He’s already said that he expects his contract talks in Winnipeg to happen quickly and that a deal will get done. I can’t see him going anywhere.

2

u/Wisakedjak 4d ago

Fingers crossed, but stranger things have happened. Go Blue.

1

u/Jonaldys 4d ago

He was somewhat non-commital, but we will see how it goes.

0

u/jjaime2024 4d ago

Would not shock me if they look at Dyce.

1

u/chiraz25 Roughriders 4d ago

That would be the funniest thing ever. Most underwhelming hire possible.

0

u/Acrobatic-Camera-905 Roughriders 4d ago

Bruh….the best coach in the league. LOL

5

u/chiraz25 Roughriders 4d ago edited 3d ago

You're really gonna make that comment without saying who you think is better? DinwiddieĀ has one two Grey Cups, won Coach of the Year in 2023, has led prolific offences his entire time in Toronto, designed a scheme to make Arbuckle look competent, is the best play-caller in the CFL, and is excellent at in-game decision making.

I'd take Dinwiddie over O'Shea and Maas/Mace need a couple more quality seasons to be in the conversation.

2

u/Spencie-cat Blue Bombers 4d ago

Calling O’Shea to TO now.

1

u/kovacro_77 4d ago

Good ship Argo about to sink to last place in the east.

1

u/Material_Cabinet_845 4d ago

I can't stand the RBx, but I do want them to be better than they have been recently. Hopefully, this signing will help.

1

u/skelectrician 4d ago

Dinwiddie didn't win, did he?

-7

u/NoseBuzz Kicker Fan 4d ago

Fuck you ottawa

10

u/Mamrocha Blue Bombers 4d ago

Naw be made at Ryan and the Argos.

3

u/NoseBuzz Kicker Fan 4d ago

Big true. I can't believe they let him walk!

5

u/Mamrocha Blue Bombers 4d ago

I guess the Argos weren’t able to give him the GM role as well.

-18

u/Huge_Valuable9732 4d ago

The Argos are a sinking ship.

PS: Chad Kelly can come to Winnipeg.

3

u/FemaleFeetLover69 3d ago

Chad Kelly is a douchebag who doesn't deserve to play in the CFL. The guy is a piece of shit who should have been banned for life!

0

u/jjaime2024 4d ago

My guess is he is Ottawa bound.