Oliveira back in Winnipeg after ‘extremely seamless’ negotiations with Blue Bombers

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Brady Oliveira (20) is tripped up during second half CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes, in Montreal on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

WINNIPEG — Star CFL running back and pending free agent Brady Oliveira thought negotiations for his next contract would drag into the new year.

Instead, he got an early Christmas present.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed the two-time outstanding Canadian to a three-year contract extension on Monday, reportedly worth $290,000 in the first year and $300,000 in both 2027 and ’28. It also comes with some unspecified guarantees.

Oliveira, 28, had indicated that he might test free agency in February but decided to stick with his hometown team.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting to get a deal done as quickly as we did,” he said Tuesday. “I thought I was going to go into the new year. Obviously, I was a lot happier with the way it played out.

“Getting this deal done before Christmas is like an early Christmas present for myself and for my family. So, I’m extremely happy about that.”

Oliveira called the negotiations “extremely seamless.”

“Winnipeg showed a lot of respect right off the jump with this and made it very easy to make this thing work,” he said.

“I love this city, I love Winnipeg. I love this organization, and for me to be here for another three years, playing for my hometown — I’ve said it before — it’s like a dream come true. So, just really happy about this.”

Despite his affection for Winnipeg, there had been some speculation that Oliveira would seek employment elsewhere because he was not pleased with the direction of the offence last season. But that changed when the Bombers re-signed both general manager Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea.

“Obviously, seeing Osh (O’Shea) sign back and Kyle sign back, I trust this organization,” Oliveira said. “We’ve been very successful for the last number of years, so I put full trust in their hands.

“When it comes to the coaching staff, obviously, again, I trust the organization and I trust Osh that they will make the right decisions on this and I’m just really looking forward to next season.”

The five-foot-nine, 229-pound basher rushed for 1,163 yards — third in the CFL — and posted 1,709 total yards from scrimmage — second to Edmonton’s Justin Rankin (1,726) — despite missing three games last season. It was also his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. Only former Bombers tailback Charles Roberts had more with six.

“I’ve worked extremely hard for this,” said Oliveira, who also won the CFL’s outstanding player award in 2024. “For this time, for this moment. I think it goes back to my early days of playing football and all the sacrifices that I’ve put in, and it’s gotten me to where I am today. But I’ve always had a great support system around me, I’ve always been a part of some great teams, and I’ve had some great teammates around me with some great coaches. So, I think that has allowed me to get to where I am.

“I think I’ve been very successful because of the guys around me. It’s hard to describe with words the gratitude and joy that I’m feeling signing back with Winnipeg. I think it’s a testament to, obviously, the work that I put in, but also the people that I’ve been surrounded with. Not only in football with my teammates, but also just my support system, my family around me. I’ve got a great team around me and I’m just very happy to be back.”

Oliveira also discussed the immediate future with teammates who are about to become free agents. One of those was his good friend, slotback Nic Demski.

“Hopefully, it works out for him and the organization,” he said. “That guy is a key piece to this team, to this offence, a true leader in this locker room, so those are the guys who you want as part of the organization. There’s a list of guys who are free agents who are obviously a massive piece to this team and are great voices in the locker room, and I think that’s very crucial to winning football games.”

One of those pending free agents was halfback Redha Kramdi, who signed a two-year contract extension on Tuesday.

“Extremely excited, that he got what he deserved, essentially, and that he’s back with us,” Oliveira said. “We talked a ton throughout the last number of weeks about where his head was at, and just the importance of him being back here. He’s pretty much the heartbeat of that defence. He’s a voice on that defence. Essentially a coach out there. So, for him to sign back was a massive part for this team, for this organization.”

NOTE: Oliveira, who is a well-known dog rescuer, brought Gunnar, one of his four dogs, to the press conference, which is believed to be a first.

“I love it. It’s history, huh?” he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2025

Jim Bender, The Canadian Press