Quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell, Nathan Rourke finalists for CFL top player honour

By Canadian Press on October 30, 2025.

TORONTO — Quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Nathan Rourke are the finalists for the CFL’s George Reed most outstanding player award.

The nominees for the league’s individual awards were announced Thursday. Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the league’s nine head coaches.

Mitchell, of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, led the CFL in passing (5,296 yards) and TDs (career-high 36). Rourke, of the B.C. Lions, was second in both categories (5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns) but was the league’s top rushing quarterback (564 yards, 9.2-yard average, 10 TDs).

Mitchell was the award finalist last year behind Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira. Mitchell has claimed the honour twice.

Rourke is also the West Division nominee for top Canadian, an award he won in 2022. Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund earned the East Division nod.

Defensive linemen Mathieu Betts of B.C. and Julian Howsare of Hamilton are the top defensive player finalists.

Hamilton’s Brandon Revenberg and Jermarcus Hardrick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders were named as the top lineman candidates.

Returner Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and kicker Lirim Hajrullahu of the Toronto Argonauts are finalists for top special-teams player.

Vaval is also up for the top rookie honour, along with Hamilton linebacker Devin Veresuk.

Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Jason Maas of the Montreal Alouettes are finalists for the CFL’s coach of the year award. Maas claimed last year’s honour.

The CFL will hold its annual awards banquet Nov. 13 in Winnipeg.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2025.

The Canadian Press