Ottawa is grappling with another disappointing chapter for its hometown football team, as the Redblacks have fired their defensive co-ordinator after the club dropped every game since kicking off its season on June 6. Seven games in, and the Redblacks still haven't found the win column — a stretch that's put real pressure on the coaching staff and left fans across the capital frustrated.
A Rough Stretch for the Home Team
For a city that's had its share of ups and downs supporting professional sports, the Redblacks' winless start stings. The team has struggled defensively throughout the young season, and management has clearly decided it's time for a change at that position. While the club hasn't detailed every specific number behind the decision, the pattern has been obvious to anyone watching from the stands at TD Place or tuning in at home: opposing offences have had a field day against Ottawa's defence, and something needed to give.
Why This Matters for Ottawa
The Redblacks aren't just another team — they're one of the few professional sports franchises Ottawa can call its own, playing right downtown at Lansdowne Park. When the team struggles, it's felt across the city, from the bars that fill up on game days to the local businesses that count on foot traffic around TD Place. A winless start doesn't just hurt in the standings — it hurts ticket sales, local morale, and the buzz that a good CFL season can bring to the ByWard Market and Glebe neighbourhoods surrounding the stadium.
Ottawa sports fans have long memories, too. This city watched the Renegades fold back in 2006 before the Redblacks were built from the ground up as a fresh CFL franchise in 2014. That history makes stretches like this one feel especially high-stakes — nobody in Ottawa wants to see history repeat itself, even if a coaching shake-up rather than a franchise collapse is the current concern.
What Comes Next
With the defensive co-ordinator now out, the Redblacks will need to regroup quickly if they hope to turn the season around. CFL seasons are short, and every week without a win makes a playoff push harder to imagine. For now, all eyes in Ottawa are on how the coaching change affects the team's performance on the field in the weeks ahead, and whether a fresh voice on defence can stop the bleeding.
Ottawa fans hoping for better days will be watching closely as the Redblacks look to salvage what's left of their season. Whether this move sparks a turnaround or is just the first of more changes to come remains to be seen, but for a city that takes pride in its home team, a win — any win — can't come soon enough.
Source: CBC Ottawa
