The Winnipeg Blue Bombers demoted offensive coordinator Jason Hogan after head coach Mike O'Shea decided a change was needed.
“We weren't good enough last year for a number of reasons and we needed to look for someone with more experience,” O'Shea told the media on Monday.
“(Hogan was) obviously disappointed (with the demotion). He certainly wanted to do better in his first year as (offensive coordinator), so he's disappointed in how things turned out, but I think if you ask him, he's probably more disappointed for the team than for himself personally.”
Hogan was hired as Winnipeg's running backs coach in 2022, the same year Brady Oliveira became the team's full-time starter. The results were extremely positive: the team won three straight Gray Cups, and Oliveira was named All-CFL twice, won two titles, two Most Outstanding Canadian Player awards and one Most Outstanding Player award.
Native of Montreal, Que. was named offensive coordinator in 2025, but the results were not up to par. He threw Chris Streveler under the bus. for a late interception and, according to franchise quarterback Zach Collaros, There were offensive games during training camp that were never played in the regular season.
Oliveira noted that he and Hogan had a long conversation shortly after the team's loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern semi-finals, calling it difficult but productive. The star running back said he would have liked to have spent more time with Hogan during the season and admitted the offense didn't perform well enough.
However, the strong ball handler will see more of Hogan in 2026 as he has agreed to resume the role he held before becoming offensive coordinator.
“I think Hogan is grateful to be back as the running backs coach. He's been in this position before, he knows the room. I think he'll be happy about it. He's a really good coach,” O'Shea said.
“I think the timing (of last year's promotion) may have been too early for him. The biggest thing… I didn't do a good enough job of supporting him and making sure I was giving him what he needed. Of course, for a guy to take a step back and continue to work for the same team is rare, so I like that about his character. He's definitely able to put his ego aside and say, 'Yeah, this is the job I want.'
Tommy Condell, who previously held the same position with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks, has officially been named the team's new offensive coordinator. The 54-year-old has experience at receiver and runs what is typically considered a complex scheme.
This may seem strange considering how well Winnipeg has the ball and size of star running back Brady Oliveira's recent contract extension. O'Shea said he was not concerned and suggested his staff would be flexible to ensure the team achieved the greatest possible success.
“I don’t think it will be a problem,” he said. “I believe our coaching staff as a whole understands that in any given week, whatever it takes that week to win the game, that part of our DNA is not going to change.”
The team's longtime head coach said he has interviewed several candidates for the offensive coordinator position, although he did not provide an exact number. The only person reportedly given an interview was Mike Miller, who was recently promoted to head coach of the Toronto Argonauts.
In 2025, Winnipeg ranked seventh in offensive points per game (23.1), fifth in offensive yards per game (6.38), ninth in passing yards per game (235.0), second in yards per game (124.1) and sixth in sacks allowed (37).
While these numbers are mediocre at best, in most cases they are better than Condell's offensive numbers in Ottawa. The Redblacks ranked eighth in offensive points per game (22.1), ninth in offensive yards per game (5.99), fifth in passing yards per game (269.3), sixth in yards per game (93.6) and seventh in sacks allowed (47).
Collaros and Condell worked well together during their two seasons in Hamilton, with the quarterback throwing for 6,637 yards, 40 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 25 regular-season games. The Tigercats reached the Gray Cup in 2014, then Collaros was the consensus favorite for Most Outstanding Player in 2015 before suffering a torn ACL.
O'Shea said hiring Condell was solely his decision, pointing out that Collaros had no say in the move.
“I know their history together. In our time together, we've talked about the different coaches we've played under, who we've been around. Those conversations happen quite naturally over time, so I know what he thinks about Tommy and his career so I don't have to go back and ask any questions,” he said.
“(Condell) was with Zach in Zach's early formative years, and they were very productive together, and that would be a big part of this. He really has a ton of experience, not only as an (offensive coordinator) but coaching experience in other leagues. All those different experiences add up to make the guy unflappable.”
This is not the first time O'Shea has demoted an assistant coach. Richie Hall, who served as the team's defensive coordinator for eight seasons, was replaced by Jordan Younger after the 2023 season. Hall remained on staff as an assistant, helping Younger lead a defense that has been one of the best in the league over the past two years.
O'Shea confirmed that Winnipeg's coaching staff for 2026 has not yet been determined. For example, with Hogan returning to the role of running backs coach, it is unclear what will happen to Andre Bolduc, who took over the position in 2025. When asked specifically about the future of quarterbacks coach Jarius Jackson, O'Shea said it was “to be determined.”
Regardless of who joins the team's coaching staff, one thing is certain: they will have to do better in 2026 than they did in 2025.
