Bo Levi Mitchell left money on the table but negotiated a raise of more than $100,000 to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2026.
The six-foot-one, 210-pound QB received a $210,000 signing bonus to sign a two-year extension with the Ticats. He has a base salary of $210,000, $40,000 in marketing, $15,300 in housing and travel allowance of $10,000, which equates to $485,300 in hard money.
Mitchell also has $30,000 in incentives that can be unlocked if he makes the active roster and plays one snap in 16 games. If he receives this bonus, his total for 2026 will be $515,300.
The 35-year-old football player is in fifth place after BK. Nathan RourkeToronto Chad KellyWinnipeg Zach Collaros and Calgary Vernon Adams Jr. among starting defensive backs receiving financial compensation in 2026. Drew BrownSaskatchewan Trevor Harris and Edmonton Cody Fajardo stand behind him.
Mitchell earned $374,800 in 2025. He's done around $350,000 in 2024 after collecting more $500,000 in 2023his first year in the Steel City. In 2019, the Katy, Texas native became the league's second-highest rated three-down player with earnings of $675,000. while playing for the Calgary Stampeders, which was the most he earned in a single season in his career.
The Ticats' QB1 completed 68.3 percent of his passes for 5,296 passing yards with 36 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 2025. He added 21 carries for 124 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown since 2015 last season. Mitchell started all 18 regular season games, posted an 11–7 win-loss record, and led Hamilton to first place in the East Division.
The 13-year veteran has completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 44,319 yards, eighth-most in CFL history, with 262 touchdowns compared to 128 interceptions in his CFL career while posting a scoring average. Regular season win-loss-draw record of 110-46-2.. He rushed 211 times for 1,034 yards, 4.9 per carry and 14 majors. Mitchell has won two Gray Cups (2014 and 2018), two Gray Cup MVPs and two Most Outstanding Player awards (2016 and 2018).
The Tabbies ranked third in net offense, eighth in net defense and first in turnover differential of plus 10. The team's leading rusher was Greg Bell with 1,038 yards, the leading receiver was Kenny Lawler with 1,443 yards, and the leading tackler was Stavros Kasantonis with 69 tackles. Hamilton ranked fourth in attendance with an average attendance of 22,858, up 3.9 percent from the previous year.
