McLeod Bethel-Thompson signed market value contract with Ottawa Redblacks

Photo: Guang Quan/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Ottawa Redblacks signed veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to a one-year contract in June. The deal is fair market value for a backup QB in the Canadian Football League.

Per sources, the 38-year-old’s agreement includes a $98,000 base salary, $15,000 travel allowance, and $15,000 in marketing money. He will also earn $3,000 each time he plays 51 percent or more offensive snaps for Ottawa in a game.

The six-foot-three, 230-pound passer has an additional $9,000 available in statistical, all-star, and awards bonuses, but with the Redblacks at 0-12, none are realistically attainable.

Bethel-Thompson entered Ottawa’s Week 15 game in Toronto against the Argonauts and played over half the offensive snaps, earning him an extra $3,000. He completed 16-of-23 passes for 192 yards with one touchdown after replacing Jake Maier midway through the second quarter. However, his performance was not enough for the Redblacks to win as the team lost 26-23.

Since coming to the nation’s capital, No. 3 has dressed in nine games and seen action in four. The San Francisco native has completed 25-of-39 passes (64.1 percent) for 295 yards with one touchdown and one interception in 2026 after being reunited with Ryan Dinwiddie.

Through 119 regular-season CFL games, Bethel-Thompson has completed 1,623-of-2,433 passes (66.7 percent) for 19,050 yards with 104 touchdowns and 70 interceptions, while posting a 92.0 QB rating. He has a 30-38 win-loss record as a starter during his eight seasons in the CFL.

The strong-armed passer has twice been named an East Division all-star. He has won two Grey Cups, including one as a starter in 2022.

The Ottawa Redblacks (0-12) will visit the Calgary Stampeders (5-8) at McMahon Stadium on Saturday, September 19 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. Last week, the Redblacks suffered a narrow loss to the Toronto Argonauts, while the Stampeders got blown out by the Edmonton Elks.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa or 770 CHQR in Calgary.