Lions extend CFL MOP Rourke through 2028

Nathan Rourke is staying on the West Coast, as the CFL's reigning Most Outstanding Player has agreed to a two-year extension with the BC Lions.

Rourke was scheduled to become a free agent next offseason before signing the extension.

"I'm honoured to continue my lifelong dream as a professional football player with the BC Lions," Rourke said in a statement. "I'm fortunate to be part of an organization that believes in me and trusts me to lead both on and off the field. ... This organization has redefined family for me and I'm excited to keep chasing the goal of bringing a Grey Cup back to the West Coast."

Rourke, 27, is coming off a historic 2025 campaign that saw him join Hall of Famer Russ Jackson as the only Canadian QBs to be named MOP. He passed for a Canadian single-season record 5,290 yards along with 31 touchdowns and a 70.4 completion percentage. The dual-threat pivot also ran for 564 yards - tops among quarterbacks and eighth in the league overall - and 10 rushing majors.

The Oakville, Ontario, native was originally drafted by BC second overall in 2020. He briefly left the Lions in 2023 to pursue NFL opportunities before returning in August 2024.

BC went 11-7 last year to finish second in the West Division, but the team was eliminated by Saskatchewan in the West final. The Lions haven't played in a Grey Cup game since their most recent win in 2011.