Veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has restructured his contract to stay with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, per sources.
The 33-year-old passer originally signed a three-year, $1.62 million contract with the Ticats last January and was due to make $522,000 in hard money next season. After a difficult 2023 campaign, the two sides came to terms on a significant pay cut for the QB before a $175,000 offseason roster bonus scheduled for January 15.
Instead, Mitchell collects $225,500 in hard money in 2024, including $146,700 base salary, $50,000 signing bonus, $13,800 housing, $10,000 marketing, and $5,000 travel allowance.
The new agreement includes up to $121,000 in playtime incentives. That breaks down to $4,000 per game for playing 51 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps, $15,000 for playing 51 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps in five games, $17,000 for playing 51 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps in nine games, and $17,000 for playing 51 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps in 14 games.
If Mitchell leads the Ticats in passing yards he earns $7,500 and if he leads the team in passing touchdowns that’s another $7,500. His maximum possible earnings total is $361,500.
The 12-year CFL veteran started only six games during his first season in Hamilton, missing time with an adductor injury and a fractured leg. He completed 59.1 percent of his passes for 1,031 yards with six touchdowns and ten interceptions, posting a 2-4 record.
Despite being healthy enough to play in the Eastern Semi-Final, Mitchell was benched in favour of backup Matthew Shiltz. He did not enter the playoff contest until late in the fourth quarter, raising questions about his future with the Ticats. Those have been answered, with the Katy, Tex. native taking a substantial pay cut to stay in Southern Ontario.
In 165 career CFL games, the two-time Most Outstanding Player and two-time Grey Cup champion has completed over 64 percent of his passes for 33,572 yards with 194 touchdowns and 99 interceptions, including a 92-29-2 win-loss-tie record.
Hamilton opens its 2024 regular season on Friday, June 7 when the Ticats visit Mitchell’s former team, the Calgary Stampeders, for the first time.
