Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell earns second straight CFL passing title

TORONTO – Another year, another CFL passing title for Bo Levi Mitchell.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats veteran quarterback was the league’s passing leader this season with 5,296 yards. He finished just ahead of Nathan Rourke of the B.C. Lions (5,290 yards).

Mitchell’s career-best 36 TD passes also led the CFL, with Rourke (31) second. Mitchell also led the league in pass attempts (626) and completions (428) and was the only quarterback to start all 18 of his team’s regular-season contests.

Last year, Mitchell led the CFL in passing yards (5,451) and TDs (32).

Rourke registered a CFL-high 40 completions of 30-plus yards and had 12 games of 300 or more yards, also a league best. Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris was the league’s most accurate passer (73.6 per cent). 

B.C.’s Keon Hatcher led the CFL in targets (145), yards (1,688) and yards after catch (611) while being tied with Toronto’s Kevin Mital for most catches (102) to go with nine TDs. Hamilton’s Kenny Lawler was second overall in yards (1,433) but tops in touchdown grabs (14).

In all, 11 receivers cracked the 1,000-yard plateau with Hamilton boasting three: Lawler, Kiondre Smith (1,126) and Tim White (1,016).

Dedrick Mills of the Calgary Stampeders captured the CFL rushing crown with 1,409 yards (5.6-yard). He also led the way in attempts (250) and was tied with B.C.’s James Butler and Ottawa’s Dustin Crum for most touchdowns on the ground (11).

Saskatchewan’s A.J. Ouellette (1,222 yards 4.9-yard average, eight TDs) and Butler (1,213 yards, 5.3-yard average) rounded out the top-three rushers. In all, six players ran for over 1,000 yards.

B.C. linebacker Micah Awe led the CFL in defensive plays (122), eight ahead of Winnipeg’s Tony Jones. Awe had a league-high 114 tackles, three special-teams tackles, a forced fumble, two interceptions, a pass knockdown and tackle for a loss.

Teammate Mathieu Betts had a CFL-best 15 sacks, two more than Hamilton’s Julian Howsare. Betts, Howsare, Calgary’s Clarence Hicks (12) and Montreal’s Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (11) were the only players to register double-digit sacks in 2025.

The league high last year was eight sacks, a mark shared by five players.

Calgary’s Derrick Moncrief posted a CFL-high 12 tackles for a loss while Winnipeg defensive lineman Willie Jefferson was tops in pass knockdowns (16).

Five players — Saskatchewan’s Tevaughn Campbell, Jamal Peters and Stavros Katsantonis of Hamilton, Calgary’s Adrian Greene and Toronto’s Tarvarus McFadden — finished tied for first in defensive returns, all with six interceptions.

Campbell had the most interception return yards (205) and longest return (112 yards) while Greene was tops in TD returns (two).

B.C.’s Sean Whyte was the league’s most accurate kicker (95.1 per cent) after hitting 39-of-41 attempts. Montreal’s Jose Maltos had the most attempts (65) and field goals made (58) while Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo posted the longest boot (63 yards).

Edmonton’s Jake Julien boasted the top punting average (51.1 yards) while Calgary’s Mark Vassett had the best net (41.7 yards).

Hamilton’s Isaiah Wooden boasted the CFL’s top punt-return average (15 yards) while Winnipeg’s Trey Vaval led in total returns (75), yards (957) and longest return (97 yards).

Edmonton’s Javon Leake was first in punt-return TDs (two), 30-plus yard returns (six) and all-purpose yards (2,424).

B.C.’s Seven McGee led the CFL in kickoff return yards (1,198). Toronto’s Janarion Grant had the most returns (50), Saskatchewan’s Mario Alford boasted the top average (28.3 yards) while Wooden recorded the longest return (105 yards).

Wooden and Vaval finished tied for most kickoff return TDs (two each). Wooden had a CFL-best five returns of 40 or more yards.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27. 2025.