The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are getting set for the 2026 season, re-signing multiple players and making big moves during CFL free agency.
The biggest news so far has been the Tiger-Cats’ signing of two-time CFL all-star linebacker Wynton McManis from the Toronto Argonauts.
Last year during the regular season, McManis had 62 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in 15 games.
McManis has also won the Grey Cup three times.
He won the Grey Cup in 2018 with the Calgary Stampeders, and the 2022 and 2024 Grey Cups with the Argos.
Throughout his 100 career regular season games in the CFL, he has 390 tackles, 52 special teams tackles, 16 sacks, nine interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
He has also scored three defensive touchdowns.
McManis also used to be teammates with Hamilton Tiger-Cats starting quarterback Bo-Levi Mitchell when he was in Calgary and with Tiger-Cats cornerback Jamal Peters when he was in Toronto.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Scott Milanovich called McManis “one of the premier defenders in our league.”
“He plays the game the right way – with physicality, intelligence, and a relentless motor. Beyond what he brings on the field, his experience as a Grey Cup champion and his leadership in the locker room are invaluable, and we’re excited to welcome him to our organization.”
The Tiger-Cats also signed Canadian quarterback Tre Ford from the Edmonton Elks to a two-year contract.
Ford, from Niagara Falls, is expected to back up starting quarterback Bo-Levi Mitchell.
The Tiger-Cats also signed left tackle Trevor Reid, who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024 but then left to spend some time in the NFL and UFL.
Keric Wheatfall, a wide receiver who had 42 catches for 655 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games for Winnipeg last year, was also signed by the Tiger-Cats.
Wheatfall was a former teammate of Tiger-Cats receiver Kenny Lawler.
Offensive tackle Eric Lofton was also signed from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Canadian defensive lineman Kene Onyeka was added after six seasons in Ottawa.
Tyson Middlemost, a receiver and special teams player who grew up in Dundas and went to St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School and McMaster University, was signed from the Edmonton Elks.
Middlemost had five catches for 34 yards last year but also registered eight special teams tackles.
Defensive lineman Charbel Dabire was added from Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup-winning roster.
Dabire has appeared in 58 regular-season games, recording 41 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
After losing kick returner Isaiah Wooden to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, the Tiger-Cats picked up veteran returner Mario Alford from Saskatchewan as well.
Alford also won the Grey Cup last year and registered 44 punt returns for 476 yards and 31 kick-off returns for 876 yards, including one touchdown in 11 regular-season games in 2025.
In previous news, the Tiger-Cats re-signed quarterback Bo-Levi Mitchell, corner Jamal Peters, defensive back Destin Talbert, offensive lineman Brandon Revenberg, safety Stavros Katsantonis, and defensive end Julian Howsare before free agency started on Feb. 10.
Despite the new signings, the Tiger-Cats have also lost some players to free agency.
East Division all-star running back Greg Bell is headed to Ottawa, leaving Johnny Augustine and Ante Milanovic-Litre as the Tiger-Cats two main running backs.
Other key players lost were all-star receiver Tim White, who the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed, and Canadian offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey, who went to the Elks.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
