GRAND FORKS — Former UND running back Brady Oliveira is staying put in Winnipeg.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced Monday the signing of Oliveira to a three-year contract extension. The 28-year-old from Winnipeg was set to be a free agent in February.
Oliveira, who made $240,000 in 2025, signed for $290,000 in 2026, climbing to $300,000 in 2027 and 2028, according to 3DownNation.
Oliveira rushed for 1,163 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 and set career highs in receiving with 61 catches for 546 yards.
He was named the CFL’s outstanding player in 2024 when he ran for 1,353 yards, earning a second-straight league rushing title.
He had career highs in 2023 with 13 touchdowns (nine rushing, four receiving) and 1,534 rushing yards.
Oliveira, who was named top Canadian and was an All-CFL selection in 2023 and 2024, was selected by the Blue Bombers in the second round, 14th overall, in the 2019 CFL draft out of UND.
He has since suited up for 83 games for the Blue Bombers, scoring 27 touchdowns and helping the team win Grey Cup titles in 2019 and 2021.
Just six years into his career, Oliveira is already sixth on the Blue Bombers all-time rushing list with 5,480 yards.
Oliveira finished his UND career as the program’s seventh all-time leading rusher with 2,822 yards — formulating one of the program’s all-time best running back duos alongside classmate John Santiago.
He earned all-Big Sky Conference honors in 2016 and 2017, then played in 2018 when UND was independent and unable to collect league honors.
Oliveira is expected to speak to the Winnipeg media on Tuesday.
He addressed questions about his contract at his last media availability following the season.
“Everyone knows the last number of years here have been amazing,” he said. “Playing for my hometown, it’s been incredible. I have nothing but good things to say about my time here, and would I love to be back? Absolutely. But I think I owe it to myself to sit down with my agent and OTG Sports (his management firm) and to talk to my family and see what the best scenario and situation is for me.
“I know what I can bring and I know I’m a caliber player that can help a team win a championship, so I want to put myself in the best situation to win a championship. This is why I play this game. I don’t play it for none of the awards or any of that stuff, I play it to win a Grey Cup. So, I’m going to put myself in the best situation. Would I love to be back? I love playing for my hometown. Playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has been a dream come true for myself.”
Miller has covered sports at the Grand Forks Herald since 2004 and was the state sportswriter of the year in 2019 (NSMA, NDAPSSA), 2022 (NSMA, NDAPSSA) and 2024 (NDAPSSA).
His primary beat is UND football but also reports on a variety of UND sports and local preps.
He can be reached at (701) 780-1121, tmiller@gfherald.com or on Twitter at @tommillergf.