A new chapter has begun for the BC Lions, as the organization announced two significant changes on Wednesday. The Lions have parted ways with Head Coach and Co-General Manager Rick Campbell and elevated Ryan Rigmaiden to the position of General Manager. Neil McEvoy, who has served as Co-GM for the last four years, will now take on the role of President of Football Operations.
“We are grateful to Rick Campbell for his pivotal role in restoring our franchise’s competitiveness during challenging times. He is both an outstanding coach and a valued friend,” said President Duane Vienneau. “We are excited to have Neil and Ryan in their new roles, especially as we start preparing for 2025. Our aim remains clear: to contend for the Grey Cup every year.”
Rick Campbell was appointed head coach of the BC Lions in advance of the canceled 2020 season. In 2021, the team posted a 5-9 record and missed the playoffs, which was an improvement over their 5-13 finish in 2019. Both the 2022 and 2023 seasons saw the Lions achieve a 12-6 record, reaching the Western Semi-Final at home but losing in the Western Final on the road in Winnipeg.
The 2024 season ended with the Lions at 9-9, culminating in a 19-28 loss to Saskatchewan in the Western Semi-Final. The team had high hopes going into 2024, especially since they were set to host the Grey Cup. Owner Amar Doman provided resources that allowed the team to exceed the salary cap, enabling key signings such as bringing back quarterback Nathan Rourke after Vernon Adams Jr. suffered a midseason injury and re-signing DE Mathieu Betts following his time with the Detroit Lions.
“Our owner has equipped us with everything we need to build this team, but I believe our performance this year did not match our previous seasons, and sometimes a change is necessary to reach the next level,” stated BC Lions President Duane Vienneau during Wednesday’s media conference.
Despite a disappointing season under Campbell, he has already drawn interest from the Edmonton Elks, who have received permission to interview him, as reported by Farhan Lalji.
The Lions made a significant announcement, revealing their intention to explore options for trading quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who started for the team at the beginning of the 2024 season.
“We’ll begin making calls starting tonight to assess the market,” said General Manager Ryan Rigmaiden. “He’s an outstanding quarterback, and you all know the type of leader and personality he brings. Any team that isn’t entirely set at the quarterback position is going to want to at least have a conversation about him.”
Adams had an impressive start to the season, throwing for 2,395 yards and 14 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions in his first 7 games, positioning him for a top-three finish in CFL passing yards for the season. However, his eighth game ended poorly when he suffered an injury in a loss to Winnipeg. He returned to start the Lions’ final regular season match against Montreal, where he completed 26 of 36 passes for 385 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. In the playoffs, Adams went 20 for 33 for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in a loss.
While Adams is a capable quarterback, BC may struggle to secure substantial value in a trade. The 2024 season showcased the depth of talent at the quarterback position in the CFL, highlighted by the rise of Davis Alexander in Montreal and Nick Arbuckle, who was named Grey Cup MVP for Toronto. With several quarterbacks poised to hit free agency this offseason, many of whom have performed at a high level, it may be challenging for BC to find a trade partner willing to offer significant compensation, especially given the Lions’ need to part ways with Adams for salary cap reasons. He had recently signed a sizable contract extension that runs through 2026.
Ryan Rigmaiden, previously the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the past three seasons, has now become the 17th General Manager in the club’s history. He initially worked for the Lions from 2013 to 2017 and then served as the Director of College Scouting for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2018 to 2020. Before his CFL career, Rigmaiden gained experience in the Arena Football League with the Spokane Shock, where he started in 2006 and became General Manager in 2010.
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