Courtesy: CFL

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed Canadian quarterback Tre Ford, per sources. It’s a two-year contract through the 2027 season.

The Niagara Falls native has decided to come home and take the backup spot behind Bo Levi Mitchell. Ford and Mitchell have a relationship and first met throwing together in Toronto along with Zach Collaros.

Ford was released by the Edmonton Elks on Friday, January 30, prior to a $110,000 offseason roster bonus, which was due Sunday, February 1. That made him a free agent and gave him the ability to put pen to paper with the Ticats.

Edmonton general manager Ed Hervey touted Ford as the Green and Gold’s starting QB entering the 2025 season and gave him a contract to match. However, the 27-year-old was benched following a 1-4 start as Cody Fajardo took over at the game’s most important position. He did not take another snap after Week 6 as Fajardo produced a 6-7 win-loss record to end the campaign, impressing head coach Mark Kilam and Hervey enough to extend his contract for the 2026 season.

After being selected in the first round, eighth overall by Chris Jones during the 2022 CFL Draft, Ford has completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,651 yards with 29 touchdowns versus 19 interceptions in 60 CFL games. He’s rushed 124 times for 1,129 yards, 9.1 per carry, and scored four majors on the ground. The six-foot, 190-pound QB has a 10-13 win-loss record in 23 career starts.

Ford earned the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2021 as the best player in Canadian university football after completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,770 yards with 12 touchdowns against six interceptions while rushing 66 times for 667 yards, 10.1 yards per carry, and three touchdowns in seven games, including one in the playoffs.

The ultra-athletic QB had his best statistical U Sports season in 2018 when he completed 74 percent of his passes for 3,093 yards with 30 touchdowns versus two interceptions while rushing 85 times for 771 yards, nine yards per carry, and four touchdowns in eight regular-season games and one in the playoffs.

Ford can learn behind Mitchell and under QB guru Scott Milanovich in Hamilton.