CALGARY — Ryan Dinwiddie enters his tenure as head coach and general manager of the Ottawa REDBLACKS with a clear-eyed view of what drives success in the CFL and what still needs to be built.

Speaking about his quarterback, the organization’s short-term expectations, and the value of holding the first overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, the two-time Grey Cup champion struck a balance between ambition and realism.

While Ottawa is still in the early stages of a longer-term plan, the message was consistent: the REDBLACKS are not interested in patience for patience’s sake.

Here are three key takeaways from Dinwiddie’s conversation with CFL.ca during the Winter Meetings in Calgary.

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For Dinwiddie, the importance of the quarterback position is non-negotiable, especially in a nine-team league where true........

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