Photo courtesy: David Friedrich/B.C. Lions

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made Evan Holm the CFL’s highest-paid American defensive back, per league sources.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the team on Tuesday, which included an $80,000 signing bonus. Holm will also receive $71,700 in salary, $15,300 in housing, $10,000 in marketing, and a $3,000 travel bonus. In total, he will earn $180,000 in hard money in 2026, plus up to $6,000 in all-star and awards incentives.

The second year of Holm’s new contract includes $185,000 in hard money with $55,000 of the base salary guaranteed for 2027. The deal was negotiated by veteran agent Rob Fry.

Prior to this extension being signed, the two highest-paid defensive backs for the 2026 season were going to be Hamilton Tiger-Cats cornerback Jamal Peters and Deatrick Nichols, who is Holm’s teammate in Winnipeg. Both players will earn $175,000 this upcoming season with Nichols receiving a $60,000 signing bonus to return to the Blue Bombers.

Holm started 18 regular-season games at field-side halfback in 2025, earning his first All-CFL selection. He recorded 55 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, a team-high four interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

The five-foot-eleven, 185-pound defender has played 63 regular-season games over four seasons in Winnipeg, making 225 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles, seven interceptions, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Zach Collaros threw for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 regular-season games, going 6-7 as a starter.

The Blue Bombers ranked fifth in net offence, third in net defence, and eighth with a turnover differential of minus-eleven. The club’s leading rusher was Brady Oliveira with 1,163 yards, leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and leading tackler was Tony Jones with 104 tackles. Winnipeg ranked first in attendance with average crowds of 32,343, which was a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year.