Ticats' Steinauer promoted to president of football ops, remains head coach

After weeks of rumors about his imminent departure, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have significantly expanded head coach Orlondo Steinauer's role with the club.

Steinauer added president of football operations to his title with the Ticats as part of a reorganized front office, the team announced Friday. The organization did not disclose the contract details.

"It's hard to put a sentence together to describe how grateful and excited I am for this expanded role with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats," Steinauer said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to assist in carrying on the rich pride and tradition of the Hamilton Tiger-Cat football club."

Steinauer, whose playing career included four years with the Ticats, was named Hamilton's head coach in 2019 following five campaigns on staff. Under his watch, the Tabbies have won 23 regular-season games and reached the Grey Cup in each of the last two campaigns, but they lost both championship contests to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 48-year-old's future in Hamilton was the subject of much speculation throughout the Ticats' playoff run. Steinauer, a Seattle native, was reportedly a top candidate for the defensive coordinator job at Washington under new Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer. Washington ultimately filled that role earlier this month.

Hamilton also announced Ed Hervey's hiring as an assistant GM and senior advisor to Steinauer. Hervey, 48, was previously the Edmonton Elks' GM from 2013-16 and built that franchise's most recent Grey Cup-winning club. He also spent three years as the BC Lions' GM.