Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have locked up starting centre Michael Couture for two more seasons, keeping him with the team through 2027.

Per sources, the two sides reached a new deal during the season, which is why Couture was not included on the team’s list of pending free agents despite his previous contract being set to expire in February.

The native of Burnaby, B.C., is entering his fourth season with the Lions after making 12 starts at centre in 2025. The six-foot-four, 295-pound blocker helped pave the way for a thousand-yard rushing season by James Butler and contributed to an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the CFL.

The 31-year-old first joined his hometown team in 2023, starting every game that season. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after being selected with the 10th overall pick in the second round of the 2016 CFL Draft. He has appeared in 135 career CFL games, making 80 starts and winning a pair of Grey Cups.

Collegiately, Couture played at Simon Fraser University, where he saw action in 36 games at four different positions on the offensive line. He earned All-GNAC honours as a centre in 2014 and a tackle in 2015. He also played high school football locally for Centennial Secondary School.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.