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Rourke Reigns Supreme: Lions Quarterback Named CFL’s Most Outstanding Player
The British Columbia Lions’ Nathan Rourke capped off a stellar season Thursday night, earning the prestigious George Reed Most Outstanding Player award and the title of Most Outstanding Canadian at the CFL Awards. This marks the first time Rourke has received the George Reed award, adding to his previous recognition as Most Outstanding Canadian in 2022.
The awards, resolute by votes from the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches, recognize extraordinary performance throughout the 2025 season. While finishing second in both passing yards (5,290) and touchdowns (31), Rourke distinguished himself as the CFL’s premier rushing quarterback, accumulating 564 yards with an remarkable 9.2-yard average and scoring 10 touchdowns on the ground. His leadership fueled a remarkable six-game winning streak for the Lions, securing second place in the West Division with an 11-7 record.
Bo Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was also a strong contender for the Most outstanding Player award, a nomination he received for the second consecutive year. Mitchell led the league in pass attempts (626), completions (428), passing yards (5,296), and touchdowns (a career-high 36). notably, he was the only quarterback to start all 18 regular-season games, guiding the Tiger-Cats to a first-place finish in the East Division with an 11-7 record.
The competition for Most Outstanding Canadian also saw a compelling race, with Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, a defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes, as a finalist.The six-foot-one, 250-pound athlete from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, recorded a career-best 11 sacks, alongside 29 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and a special-teams tackle. Adeyemi-berglund will continue his season in the grey Cup, where Montreal will face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.
In a night celebrating individual brilliance, Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Trey Vaval secured a double victory, claiming both the Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards. Vaval led the CFL in punt returns (75) and return yards (957), adding a touchdown to his impressive stats. He also excelled in kickoff returns, scoring two touchdowns – the most in the league – and dominating in missed field goal returns with six attempts for 391 yards and another touchdown.
Veteran kicker Lirim Hajrullahu of the Toronto Argonauts was a finalist for the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, showcasing his skill with 57-of-64 field goals made, including a CFL-record 12 from beyond 50 yards. Linebacker Devin Veresuk of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats also vied for the Most Outstanding Rookie title, posting 67 tackles, two sacks, and a memorable 36-yard pick-six in his first professional start.
On the offensive line, Jermarcus Hardrick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders earned his first CFL top lineman award. Hardrick anchored a front line that supported quarterback Trevor Harris’s 4,549 passing yards and A.J. Ouellette’s 1,22 rushing
