The BC Lions opened a new era on Wednesday with the announcement of two major moves. The Lions fired Rick Campbell, their head coach and co-general manager, and promoted Ryan Rigmaiden to general manager. Neil McEvoy will now serve as President of Football Operations, having been a Co-GM for the Lions for the last four years.
We congratulate Rick Campbell for playing a significant role in restoring our organisation to respectability and contention while guiding us through some difficult waters upon his arrival. “He’s a great coach and a great friend,” declared President Duane Vienneau.
We’re excited to welcome Neil and Ryan in their new jobs, especially as preparations for 2025 are already begun. Our goal remains unchanged: to be in Grey Cup contention every year.”
Rick Campbell was hired as the BC Lions’ head coach prior to the 2020 season, which was cancelled. In 2021, BC finished 5-9 and missed the playoffs. A step in the right direction after the Lions finished 5-13 in 2019. In both the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the team finished 12-6 in the regular season, advanced to the Western Semi-Final at home, and lost the Western Final on the road to Winnipeg.
In 2024, the Lions finished 9-9 before falling 19-28 on the road to Saskatchewan in the Western Semi-Final. The Lions had high expectations in 2024, when they hosted the Grey Cup. Lions owner Amar Doman was providing resources as he allowed the team to go over the salary cap, making huge additions such as bringing back quarterback Nathan Rourke following Vernon Adams Jr.’s midseason injury and bringing back DE Mathieu Betts after his spell with the Detroit Lions.
Our owner has provided us with all of the tools we need to grow this football team; yet, I do not believe we did as well this year as we have in other years, and sometimes you have to make a change to advance to the next level. Duane Vienneu, President of the BC Lions, announced at Wednesday’s media conference.
Despite Campbell’s dismal season in British Columbia this year, he has already piqued the curiosity of the Edmonton Elks, who have been granted permission to interview him, according to Farhan Lalji.
The Lions made another significant announcement, revealing that they intended to explore for a way to trade quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was the team’s starter to open the 2024 season.
we’re going to start making phone calls tonight and gauge the market.” according to general manager ryan rigmaiden “he’s an excellent quarterback. you’re aware of his leadership style and personality. i believe anyone who isn’t sure about quarterback will want to talk about it.
VA had a great start to the season, accumulating 2,395 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions in the first seven games, putting him on pace for the third most passing yards in a CFL season. Unfortunately, his eighth game was a bad showing that resulted in an injury in a loss in Winnipeg.
Adams started again in the Lions’ final regular-season game against Montreal, finishing 26 of 36 for 385 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. In the playoff loss, Adams Jr. completed 20 of 33 passes for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
While VA is a top-tier quarterback, BC may struggle to extract considerable value for him in a deal. 2024 was a year where the depth of talent at the quarterback position in the CFL was on full show, with the rise of Davis Alexander in Montreal and Nick Arbuckle earning the Grey Cup MVP for Toronto.
Many high-level quarterbacks are slated to enter free agency this offseason. With so many quarterback alternatives available to other clubs, a trade partner may be hesitant to transfer major resources to BC knowing that the Lions need to deal Vernon Adams Jr. for contract reasons. Last offseason, he signed a lucrative contract deal with BC that runs through 2026.
Ryan Rigmaide was named the club’s 17th General Manager after serving as Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the previous three seasons. From 2013 to 2017, he worked with the Lions, then from 2018 to 2020, he was the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Director of College Scouting. Rigmaiden began his career in the Arena Football League with the Spokane Shock in 2006 and advanced to the position of General Manager in 2010.