Toronto Argonauts wish Ryan Dinwiddie best with Ottawa Redblacks, start head coaching search

The Toronto Argonauts are suddenly looking for a new head coach after… Ryan Dinwiddie leaving for the Ottawa Redblacks.

“We want to thank Ryan for everything he has brought to this organization over the past five seasons. A capable, competent and dedicated coach, he has done more than we could have asked for,” general manager Mike “Pinball” Clemons said in a statement.

“Two Gray Cup championships, a Coach of the Year award, a 16-2 regular season and the fourth-most wins by a coach in Toronto Argonauts history. Ryan's impact on the organization will be forever appreciated. The Argonauts are indebted to Ryan and wish him the best for the future. The search for a new head coach continues.”

Dinwiddie joined the Argonauts in 2020 after coaching stints with the Montreal Alouettes and Calgary Stampeders. He went 51-35 in the regular season with Toronto, went 5-2 in the playoffs and won the Gray Cup twice.

The 44-year-old native of Elk Grove, California, was named the new head coach and general manager of the Ottawa Redblacks on Wednesday, signing a contract through 2028. Sean Burke, the team's current general manager, has been promoted to vice president of football operations.

In 2025, the Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings with a 5–13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play the entire season due to a broken leg he suffered in the Eastern final last year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions to be named by the team. Most Outstanding Player candidate.

The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offense, sixth in net defense and seventh in turnover differential of minus-eight. The club's leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with an average attendance of 15,109, down 0.1 percent from the previous year.