Ottawa Redblacks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ottawa Redblacks
Rouge et Noir d'Ottawa

Founded	2014
Based in	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Home field	TD Place
Head coach	Bob Dyce
General manager	Shawn Burke
Owner(s)	Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group
League	Canadian Football League
Division	East
Colours	Red, black, white
Mascot(s)	Big Joe/Grand Jos
Grey Cup win(s)	1 (2016)
Current uniform
2025 Ottawa Redblacks season

The Ottawa Redblacks (also called REDBLACKS) are a professional Canadian football team. They are based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The team plays in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

The Redblacks started playing in 2014. They are the third CFL team to play in Ottawa. The first team, the Ottawa Rough Riders, played from 1876 to 1996. Another team, the Ottawa Renegades, played from 2002 to 2005. The Redblacks won the Grey Cup Championship in 2016. This was a big win for Ottawa, ending a 40-year wait for a Grey Cup title.

Team History

After the 1996 season, the Ottawa Rough Riders team stopped playing. This was after 120 years of football in Ottawa. For five years, Ottawa did not have a CFL team. Then, in 2002, football returned with a new team, the Ottawa Renegades. But this team also faced problems and stopped playing before the 2006 CFL season. The league then hoped to bring a team back to Ottawa later.

Stadium Challenges for a New Team

In 2008, a group led by Jeff Hunt was given the right to start a new team. They planned to begin playing in 2010. However, the stadium they planned to use, Frank Clair Stadium, had problems. Parts of it needed to be torn down and rebuilt. This caused delays.

The team and league then aimed for the team to play in 2014. The stadium was renamed TD Place Stadium. There were some legal challenges and delays. But the stadium renovations were finally finished in 2014. The team also paid a fee to the CFL to join the league.

Around the same time, another group wanted to build a new soccer stadium in Ottawa. They hoped to bring a Major League Soccer team to the city. There were questions about whether Ottawa could support both football and soccer teams. City officials decided to support the plan to rebuild Lansdowne Park for the CFL team. This plan was approved in 2010. Construction on the stadium began in 2013.

Starting Football Operations (2013)

On January 30, 2013, Marcel Desjardins became the first general manager for the Redblacks. He hired Rick Campbell as the team's first head coach on December 6, 2013. Rick Campbell's father, Hugh Campbell, was a famous coach for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Before their first season, the Redblacks picked players in special drafts. In the 2013 CFL Draft, they chose four college players. Then, in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft on December 16, 2013, they picked 24 players from other CFL teams. This helped them build their first roster.

First Season (2014)

The progress of construction at TD Place Stadium, September 27, 2013

The Ottawa Redblacks played their first regular-season game on July 3, 2014. It was an away game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Redblacks scored quickly but lost the game 36–28. On July 18, 2014, they won their first home game 18–17 against the Toronto Argonauts. Like many new teams, the Redblacks had a tough first season. They finished with two wins and 16 losses.

Becoming Stronger (2015–2018)

In their second season (2015), the Redblacks added many talented players. This made their offense much better. They won eight of their last 10 games and finished first in the East Division. This was the first time an Ottawa team won a division title since 1978. On November 22, 2015, the Redblacks beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to reach the 103rd Grey Cup. They lost the Grey Cup game 26–20 to the Edmonton Eskimos.

In 2016, the Redblacks had an 8–9–1 record. Even with this record, they won their second straight division title because the East Division was not very strong that year. They beat the Edmonton Eskimos in the East Final. Then, in the 104th Grey Cup, the Redblacks won their first championship. They defeated the Calgary Stampeders 39–33 in overtime. This was Ottawa's first Grey Cup win in 40 years!

The Redblacks hoped to win again in 2017. They lost some key players but still finished second in the East Division. They lost to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the playoffs. In 2018, the Redblacks played well again. They won their third division title in four years. They beat the Tiger-Cats in the East Final. But they lost to the Calgary Stampeders in the 106th Grey Cup game.

Changes in Leadership (2019–2021)

The 2019 season was difficult for the Redblacks. They lost important offensive players like Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson. Their offensive coordinator also left. The team struggled with different quarterbacks playing throughout the season.

After starting with two wins, the team lost 11 games in a row. They finished the year with only three wins and 15 losses. After the season, head coach Rick Campbell and the Redblacks decided to part ways.

On December 7, 2019, the Redblacks hired Paul LaPolice as their new head coach. However, the team continued to struggle. After a 2–9 record in 2021, general manager Marcel Desjardins was fired on October 25, 2021.

Team Name

The team's owners first wanted to use the old "Rough Riders" name. They even bought the rights to the name. But the Saskatchewan Roughriders team objected. So, the Ottawa team decided not to use that name.

On December 6, 2012, the CFL asked fans to vote for a new name. On May 30, 2013, it was reported that the name "Redblacks" (and its French version, Rouge et Noir) was being protected. On June 8, 2013, the team officially announced they would be called the Ottawa Redblacks.

They also showed their logo. It is a block "R" like the old Rough Riders used, but with a modern look. It is surrounded by a red outline inside a black saw blade. The home uniforms are mostly black, and the away uniforms are white.

The CFL now sees all Ottawa football teams (Rough Riders, Renegades, and Redblacks) as one long history. This history goes back to 1876, with a few breaks when Ottawa didn't have a team.

Team Rivals

The Redblacks have a traditional rivalry with the Montreal Alouettes. They often play against them in the Labour Day Classic. They also have rivalries with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Toronto Argonauts in their division. Even though they are far away, the Calgary Stampeders have also become a main rival.

Honored Players

Retired Numbers

On July 18, 2014, the Redblacks announced they would retire all 10 jersey numbers that the old Ottawa Rough Riders had retired. This means no new players will wear these numbers. The team said they will not retire more numbers in the future.

Wall of Honour

All 10 retired numbers are shown on the team's Wall of Honour at the stadium. Henry Burris was also added to the Wall on September 9, 2017. On September 10, 2019, Kaye Vaughan became the 12th member added to the Wall of Honour. More players are planned to be added in the future.

Team Awards

• Grey Cup
  • Champions (1): 2016
• East Division
  • Champions (3): 2015, 2016, 2018

Team Mascot

The Redblacks' mascot is a lumberjack named "Big Joe." His original name was "Big Joe Mufferaw," based on a folk legend. But after some feedback, the team changed his name to just "Big Joe" (or "Grand Jos" in French).

Cheer and Dance Team

The Ottawa Redblacks Cheer and Dance Team started in 2014. It includes both men and women aged 18 to 35. There are two groups: 25 cheerleaders and 25 dancers. The cheerleading team performs stunts and acrobatics during games. The dance team performs dance routines.

Team members also take part in community events and charity work in Ottawa. The team offers a junior program for younger cheerleaders and dancers (ages six to 16). This program teaches them skills with help from the main team members.

See also

In Spanish: Ottawa Redblacks para niños

• Canadian football
• Comparison of American and Canadian football