Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed Canadian offensive lineman Chris Kolankowski. According to 3DownNation reporter John Hodge, it’s a one-year contract.
The native of Etobicoke, Ont. started all 18 games at centre for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2025, marking his third consecutive season without a missed start. He originally joined the team ahead of the cancelled 2020 season and appeared in 73 games across five campaigns, making 69 starts. He won a Grey Cup with the team as a backup in 2021.
The 33-year-old was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2016 CFL Draft out of York University by the Toronto Argonauts. He played 22 games for the Double Blue but never started, winning a Grey Cup in 2017.
In total, Kolankowski has played 95 regular-season CFL games over a nine-year career.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished first in the East Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record, though the team lost the East Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Bo Levi Mitchell led the CFL with 5,296 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions after starting all 18 regular-season games, earning the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Player.
The Tiger-Cats ranked third in net offence, eighth in net defence, and first with a turnover differential of plus-ten. The club’s leading rusher was Greg Bell with 1,038 yards, leading receiver was Kenny Lawler with 1,443 yards, and leading tackler was Stavros Katsantonis with 69 tackles. Hamilton ranked fourth in attendance with average crowds of 22,858, which was a 3.9 percent increase from the previous year.
