The Ottawa Redblacks have fired vice president of football operations Shawn Burke, a move that comes amid a winless start to the CFL season and continued front-office turnover. The club later confirmed the dismissal in an announcement Sunday afternoon, with the Ottawa Sun reporting the news first via TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor.
A season of struggle
The Redblacks are 0-10 so far this season, after a 30-point loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday evening. That makes them the ninth team in league history to lose their first 10 games of a season. The team has also lost 16 straight games dating back to Sept. 5, 2025, which matches the longest skid in league history, previously set by the Hamilton Wildcats in 1948-49.
Under Burke, who served as general manager from 2021 and then as vice president of football operations, the Redblacks compiled a record of 21-60-1. The team made the playoffs just once during his tenure. Burke had held the top football operations role since joining the team in 2021, and he was promoted to vice president before this season after the club named former Toronto coach Ryan Dinwiddie as head coach and GM.
In a statement, Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group chief executive officer Mark Goudie said relieving Burke of his duties was a difficult decision but that results on the field have not met expectations.
"This is a difficult decision because I have a lot of respect for Shawn," Goudie said. "Nobody can question how hard he has worked or how much he cares about the Redblacks. Shawn has embraced this organization and this community, and he has given an enormous amount of himself to the job. I am very grateful to him for that commitment."
"At the same time, our football results have not been good enough," he continued. "Ultimately, I have a responsibility to make changes when I believe we need a different approach, and I have concluded that a change in our football leadership is necessary."
Goudie also expressed gratitude to Burke for his tenure: "Shawn has been a dedicated member of the Redblacks organization over the past five seasons. I want to thank him for the professionalism, hard work and commitment he brought to the role, and I wish him and his family the very best."
Burke joined the Redblacks as general manager in November 2021 and took on the vice president role when Dinwiddie arrived as head coach and general manager in November. Prior to his time in Ottawa, Burke spent 15 seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
A string of departures
Burke's dismissal is the latest in a series of front-office changes. The team president, Adrian Sciarra, stepped down six days earlier. Since the start of August, the club has also released veteran receiver Eugene Lewis and fired defensive co-ordinator Will Fields. The dismissal of Burke leaves Dinwiddie alone at the steering wheel, as Goudie is to be the only "football person" remaining.
The Redblacks are eight points behind the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the race for a playoff spot, with eight games remaining on their schedule. Their next game is their next Sunday, Aug. 30, when they host the BC3 Lions.
A new adviser arrives
On Monday, the Redblacks appointed longtime CFL executive Jim Popp as a senior football adviser, a move that comes after the club fired Burke and in the wake of a 0-10 start. Popp has spent 28 seasons in the CFL in coaching and front-office roles and has been part of five Grey Cup-winning teams. He most recently served as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts from 2017 to 2019.
Goudie said the decision was made to bring Popp in immediately and he will serve in an advisory role through the remainder of Doug's season.
"We need to get better, and there is no reason to wait until the off-season to start doing that," Goudie said. "Jim has spent 28 years in this league and has been a part of building championship teams throughout his career. He brings a proven ability to identify players who can succeed in the CFL, and he gives me an experienced and independent football perspective as we determine the right long-term structure for this organization."
Popp, who spent 21 seasons as the general manager of the Alouettes in Ottawa from 1996 to 2016, leading the franchise to eight Grey Cup appearances, three hat trick appearances and three championships, along with 19 playoff appearances, also won a Grey Cup with Baltimore4 in 1995.
Popp joins the club immediately. He will work alongside Dinah and the football operations staff.
Perspectives
Mark Goudie, CEO of OSEG, on the change: "Our football results have not been good enough. ... I have concluded that a change in our football leadership is necessary."
Ryan, head coach and general manager, on the addition of Jim Popp: "He brought me to Canada and gave me my start as a player. I have a lot of respect for what he’s accomplished."