British Columbia Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke of Victoria, British Columbia became the fifth Canadian ever to win the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Player Award according to 3downnation.com on Thursday. Rourke followed Ottawa Rough Riders quarterback Russ Jackson of Hamilton, Ontario in 1969, Rough Riders tight end Tony Gabriel of Burlington, Ontario in 1978, Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish of New Westminster, British Columbia in 2013 and Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira of Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2024.
Rourke won two significant awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday. In addition to being the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player, he obviously won the Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award too. It was the second time Rourke won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award as he previously won in 2022.
Rourke completed 352 passes in 500 attempts for 5290 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 2025. He also had 61 rushes for 564 rushing yards and 10 touchdown rushes.
There was also a second Canadian on the British Columbia Lions to win a major CFL award on Thursday. Lions defensive lineman Mathieu Betts of Montreal, Quebec won the CFL’s best defensive player award. In 2025, Betts had 42 defensive tackles, 15 sacks and four forced fumbles. This was the second time Betts has won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award as he previously won with the Lions in 2023.
