Ottawa Redblacks tie 2003 Hamilton Tiger-Cats for worst season in CFL history

Photo courtesy: CFL.ca

The Ottawa Redblacks have officially tied the 2003 Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the worst record in CFL history.

Ottawa suffered a 35-22 defeat at the hands of this year’s Ticats on Saturday afternoon, dropping them to 1-17 on the season.

After delivering the team their first victory last week, rookie quarterback Bryson Barnes struggled in his second start, completing 13-of-26 passes for 163 yards and two interceptions. He was replaced by veteran Jake Maier late in the second half, who added two touchdowns in garbage time.

Five CFL teams have previously finished a season with a single victory, including the 1954 B.C. Lions (1-15), 1959 Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-15), 1961 B.C. Lions (1-13-2), and the 1964 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-14-1). However, the 2003 Ticats were the only team to accomplish the inauspicious feat while playing an 18-game schedule, giving them the lowest winning percentage.

CFL legend Ron Lancaster served as both head coach and general manager in Hamilton that year, much as Ryan Dinwiddie has for the Redblacks in 2026. He relinquished GM duties after a 0-10 start, but was allowed to finish the season on the sidelines before being let go.

The Redblacks suffered 16 consecutive defeats to begin this season, surpassing the previous all-time worst start achieved by the Shreveport Pirates in 1994. Their total losing streak ballooned to 22 straight games dating back to last season, until Barnes led a 40-39 upset of the Toronto Argonauts in Week 20. The 1928-32 Ottawa Rough Riders are the only team in the history of Canadian professional football to lose more games in a row.

Ottawa has already instituted major organizational changes, firing vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke earlier this year and hiring Mike Morreale as their new team president on Tuesday. 

Dinwiddie, who was brought in this offseason to turn the team around, remains under contract, though his future with the franchise continues to be evaluated.