The 2017 Ottawa Redblacks season was the fourth season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Redblacks finished in second place in the East Division with an 8–9–1 record and hosted a playoff game for the third consecutive year. The team lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the East Semi-Final in a season where Ottawa hosted the 105th Grey Cup championship at TD Place Stadium. This was the fourth season with Marcel Desjardins as general manager and Rick Campbell as head coach.

Off-season

Open Tryout Sessions On January 15, 2017, the Redblacks announced they would be holding open tryouts across North America during the spring. The dates and locations are listed in the table below: LocationVenueDateIndianapolis, IndianaDecatur Central High SchoolApril 1Durham, North CarolinaNorth Carolina Central UniversityApril 2Houston, TexasHouston Baptist University - Husky StadiumApril 8San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose City College StadiumApril 9Atlanta, GeorgiaGeorgia State UniversityMay 20Las Vegas, NevadaBill "Wildcat" Morris Rebel ParkMay 21

Coaching staff On December 23, 2016 the Redblacks announced they would be bringing back their entire coaching staff from the previous season.

Retirements On January 24, 2017 starting quarterback Henry Burris officially announced his retirement. Burris joined the Redblacks prior to their inaugural season, and was the team's starting quarterback for the franchise's first two seasons, and then again for portions of the 2016 season, eventually leading the team to victory in the 104th Grey Cup game. The retirement pushes Trevor Harris into the starting quarterback role, having acquired him prior to the 2016 season for the purpose of being Burris' successor.

Free-Agency The 2017 CFL free agency period officially opened at 12:00pm EST on February 14, 2017. Key transactions are listed below:

Retained DatePositionPlayer nameRef.December 14, 2016LBAntoine PruneauJanuary 10, 2017LBTaylor ReedFebruary 10, 2017WRGreg EllingsonFebruary 13, 2017DBJerrell GavinsFebruary 14, 2017OLNolan MacMillanMarch 9, 2017DLMoton Hopkins

Incoming DatePositionPlayer nameFormer teamRef.February 14, 2017LBKhalil BassWinnipeg Blue BombersWRKenny ShawToronto ArgonautsFebruary 15, 2017DBA.J. JeffersonToronto ArgonautsWRDiontae SpencerToronto ArgonautsMay 4, 2017WRTori GurleyToronto Argonauts

Departing DatePositionPlayer nameDestinationRef.January 4, 2017DBForrest HightowerNew Orleans Saints (NFL)DBMitchell WhitePhiladelphia Eagles (NFL)DBJeff RichardsCarolina Panthers (NFL)February 14, 2017DBAbdul KannehHamilton Tiger-CatsRBKienan LafranceSaskatchewan RoughridersFebruary 16, 2017WRErnest JacksonMontreal AlouettesFebruary 17, 2017WRChris WilliamsBC Lions

CFL draft The 2017 CFL draft took place on May 7, 2017.MARQUEE MOMENTS HIGHLIGHT 2017 CFL SCHEDULE IN CANADA’S 150TH YEAR The Redblacks made no trades in the draft and selected last in each of the eight rounds by virtue of winning the Grey Cup.

Round Pick Player Position School Hometown 1 9 Evan Johnson OL Saskatchewan Regina, SK 2 18 Anthony Gosselin FB Sherbrooke Otterburn Park, QC 3 26 Eli Ankou DL California, Los Angeles Ottawa, ON 4 35 Louis-Philippe Bourassa RB Montreal Trois-Rivières, QC 5 44 Mathieu Dupuis DL Montreal Laval, QC 6 53 Austen Hartley WR Calgary Calgary, AB 7 62 Ed Ilnicki RB Alberta Spruce Grove, AB 8 71 Jordan Filippelli OL Calgary Sherwood Park, AB

Training camp Non-mandatory spring mini-camp was held on April 27–29 at TD Place stadium. Mini-camp focused on quarterbacks, rookies and new signings. Mandatory training camp began on May 28 and will continue through June 14. Training camp consists of 12 practices, 2 walkthroughs and 1 mock game on June 3. Like in previous seasons the sessions of both the mini-camp and training camp were open for the public to view.

Preseason Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score RecordA Thu, June 8 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 30–29 1–0 TSN TD Place Stadium 23,252 RecapB Thu, June 15 7:30 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes L 5–38 1–1 TSN2/RDS Molson Stadium 12,533 Recap

2017 ScheduleOttawa Redblacks edge Hamilton Tiger-Cats in pre-season opener

Games played with colour uniforms.

Regular season

Standings

Schedule Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record1 Fri, June 23 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Calgary Stampeders T 31–31 (2OT) 0–0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPNews TD Place Stadium 24,565 Recap2 Thu, June 29 9:00 p.m. EDT at Calgary Stampeders L 39–43 0–1–1 TSN/RDS McMahon Stadium 24,613 Recap3 Sat, July 8 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Toronto Argonauts L 25–26 0–2–1 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 24,347 Recap4 Fri, July 14 10:00 p.m. EDT at Edmonton Eskimos L 21–23 0–3–1 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 36,260 Recap5 Wed, July 19 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Montreal Alouettes W 24–19 1–3–1 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 24,756 Recap5 Mon, July 24 7:30 p.m. EDT at Toronto Argonauts L 24–27 1–4–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 BMO Field 15,801 Recap 6 Bye7 Fri, Aug 4 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 30–33 1–5–1 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 23,725 Recap8 Thu, Aug 10 7:30 p.m. EDT vs. Edmonton Eskimos L 20–27 1–6–1 TSN/RDS TD Place Stadium 23,851 Recap9 Fri, Aug 18 7:30 p.m. EDT at Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 37–18 2–6–1 TSN/RDS Tim Hortons Field 23,524 Recap10 Sat, Aug 26 3:30 p.m. EDT vs. BC Lions W 31–24 3–6–1 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,887 Recap11 Thu, Aug 31 7:30 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes W 32–4 4–6–1 TSN/RDS Molson Stadium 18,325 Recap12 Sat, Sept 9 6:00 p.m. EDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 22–26 4–7–1 TSN/RDS2 TD Place Stadium 24,901 Recap13 Sun, Sept 17 1:00 p.m. EDT at Montreal Alouettes W 29–11 5–7–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Molson Stadium 22,596 Recap14 Fri, Sept 22 8:00 p.m. EDT at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 9–29 5–8–1 TSN/RDS Investor's Group Field 26,588 Recap15 Fri, Sept 29 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 17–18 5–9–1 TSN TD Place Stadium 24,893 Recap16 Sat, Oct 7 7:00 p.m. EDT at BC Lions W 30–25 6–9–1 TSN BC Place 19,324 Recap17 Fri, Oct 13 10:00 p.m. EDT at Saskatchewan Roughriders W 33–32 7–9–1 TSN Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 18 Bye19 Fri, Oct 27 7:00 p.m. EDT vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 41–36 8–9–1 TSN TD Place Stadium 24,781 Recap 20 Bye Marquee moments highlight 2017 CFL schedule in Canada's 150th year2017 RDS CFL ScheduleCFL, ESPN unveil 2017 U.S. broadcast schedule

Games played with colour uniforms. Games played with white uniforms.

Post-season Schedule Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score RecordEast Semi-Final Sun, Nov 12 1:00 p.m. EST vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 20–31 0–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 TD Place Stadium 24,107 Recap

Games played with colour uniforms.

Roster 2017 Ottawa Redblacks final roster Quarterbacks

Running backs

Receivers

Offensive linemen G C G G T G/C T T

Defensive linemen DT DE DT DE DT DE DE DE Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams LS K/P

Practice roster DB LB DB RB G SB RB WR DB DE Injured list QB LB/LS T DB LB G WR LB SB SB DT DT

Suspended list WR WR

Italics indicate International player

Coaching staff Ottawa Redblacks Staff Front office Owner – Jeff Hunt President and ceo – Bernie Ashe General manager – Marcel Desjardins Director of player personnel – vacant Coordinator, Football Administration – Chantal Covington Video Coordinator, Braun Gheller Pro Scout, Kenny McClay

Head coaches Head coach – Rick Campbell

Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Jaime Elizondo Offensive line – Bryan Chiu Receivers – Travis Moore Offensive assistant – Beau Walker Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Mark Nelson Defensive line – Leroy Blugh Defensive backs – Ike Charlton Linebackers – Derek Oswalt

Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Bob Dyce

Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning trainer – vacant

→ Coaching staff

References