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The Ottawa Redblacks have officially signed Canadian linebacker A.J. Allen to a two-year contract, which makes him the CFL’s highest-paid linebacker. 3DownNation reported the agreement during the negotiation window.
Per sources, Allen received a $60,000 signing bonus to ink the deal, it’s worth $240,000 in hard money for 2026 and $250,000 in 2027. That totals $490,000 in hard money over the two-year term along with an additional $12,000 available in incentives. He becomes the highest-paid linebacker in the three-down league’s salary cap era. His contract was negotiated by Montreal-based agent Fred Weinrauch.
The 27-year-old recorded 87 defensive tackles — fifth-most in the CFL — four special teams tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles over 18 regular-season games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025.
The Burlington, Ont. native recorded two tackles and one sack in Saskatchewan’s 24-21 West Final win over the B.C. Lions, and made a key second-down stop on Nathan Rourke. One week later, he made six tackles and one special teams stop to help the Roughriders knock off the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup.
The six-foot, 210-pound defender was originally selected in the fourth round, 35th overall during the 2020 CFL Draft. He appeared in 66 regular-season games with the team, recording 119 defensive tackles, 51 special teams tackles, four sacks, four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and three forced fumbles.
Collegiately, Allen played five seasons at the University of Guelph where he was named the OUA’s Most Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player, a first-team All-Canadian, and an OUA all-star in 2021. In five seasons with the Gryphons, he amassed 122 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Pending CFL free agents were able to communicate with teams around the league from February 1 to 8, during which time contracts could be negotiated and agreed upon but not signed. Starting Tuesday, February 10 at noon EST, players can officially change teams.
Ottawa finished fourth in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Dru Brown went 2-7 over nine starts at quarterback, throwing for 2,389 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Dustin Crum went 2-4 over six starts, throwing for 1,771 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Redblacks ranked sixth in net offence, fifth in net defence, and ninth with a turnover differential of minus-16. The club’s leading rusher was William Stanback with 698 yards, leading receiver was Justin Hardy with 1,019 yards, and leading tackler was Adarius Pickett with 84 tackles. Ottawa finished eighth in attendance with average crowds of 18,136, which was a 4.2 percent decrease from the previous year.