Let me address, first and foremost, that I do not believe there is a power struggle within the Ottawa organization. I believe the organization recognized it needed a new direction and hoped it wouldn’t require moving on from people within the franchise who had been integral to its growth.
As it stands, the REDBLACKS are 0-10 under Dinwiddie’s direction; they are also in the midst of an 8-year stretch in which they have won over 4 games just once. Since winning 11 games in 2018, the REDBLACKS have compiled a disappointing 27-86-1 record in the last 8 years (7 seasons). The moves made were likely overdue, and an indication that Ottawa is ready to do whatever it will take to get this organization on the right path.
However, in back-to-back weeks, the REDBLACKS have made two significant moves, transitioning Adrian Sciarra out of his role as President, and then announcing that Shawn Burke will be let go from his role as Vice President. They also announced the hiring of Jim Popp as Senior Football Advisor.
These moves also come two weeks after firing William Fields, and a shuffle of the coaching staff that saw Jeff Reinebold take over as Defensive Coordinator, and Nate Taylor slide into his role as Special Teams Coordinator. They have also moved on from key veterans at multiple positions, most recently Eugene Lewis was released.
For a team that hired a Head Coach while giving him the General Manager title in the process, suddenly Dinwiddie looks to be the main voice left in the front office leadership. I would be curious to hear how the front office is currently reporting to ownership. I have to assume Dinwiddie is now that conduit with Sciarra and Burke gone. A unique situation for a Head Coach in his first season with a new team.
Currently the Front Office looks like this
Ryan Dinwiddie HC/General Manager
Dinwiddie was hired as the Head Coach and General Manager by Ottawa prior to the 2026 season. Dinwiddie comes with a long history of building winning programs in whatever capacity he has served since beginning to coach. His record as a Head Coach is 51-35, but his last two seasons have been less than impressive compiling a 5-23 record with Toronto in 2025, and with Ottawa so far in 2026.
With this move they transitioned Shawn Burke into a Vice President role to retain him. At the time it looked like Ottawa felt they had the right group to lead this team to success, just 10 weeks later the coaching staff and front office look very different than they did in week 1.
Jeremy Snyder Assistant GM
Overlapped with Dinwiddie when he was a QB with the Chicago Bears in 2004-2005. They again crossed paths with Montreal when Dinwiddie began his coaching career with the Alouettes as Snyder ended his tenure with the Als before joining Ottawa. Snyder has spent this entire time serving in tandem with Dinwiddie; one would assume the working relationship is amicable enough to continue the arrangement.
Brendan Taman, Director of Player Personnel
Brendan Taman has been in player personnel since the late 80’s. Having made it to the General Manager role twice in his career, he is a valuable asset to the organization. He also crossed paths with Dinwiddie as a QB from 2006-2008. Taman was the General Manager for Winnipeg while Dinwiddie was in the middle of his playing career at the time. He was also the GM in Saskatchewan when Dinwiddie was signed there to finish out his career in 2010. Safe to say the relationship is probably on good terms.
Chad Hudson, Director of Canadian Scouting
Hudson and Dinwiddie have not worked together directly but narrowly missed crossing paths in Saskatchewan. Dinwiddie’s playing career was coming to a close, while Hudson’s career was just taking off. Dinwiddie was released in January of 2012, the same month Hudson was hired.
Phillipe Moreau, Asst. Director of US Scouting
Moreau also crossed paths with Dinwiddie during the 2015 season with Montreal. Dinwiddie was in his final season before departing for Calgary, while Moreau was just beginning what would become a 3-year stint with the franchise as a National Scout and Football Operations Assistant.
Joe Panessidi, Director of Football Operations
Joe Panessidi has not been in the scouting realm long enough to have crossed paths with Dinwiddie in other cities; however, he seems to be well respected and should be in a position to be retained moving forward.
Jim Popp Senior Football Advisor
The hiring of Jim Popp is huge for the REDBLACKS. He will serve two roles: aiding in assessing and improving the roster alongside Dinwiddie, and as an advisor to OSEG CEO Mark Goudie as the organization determines the permanent leadership structure of the front office per the team press release.
Popp brings 28 years of experience in the CFL, as well as 9 seasons in U.S. spring football, and at least 7 seasons of college experience as a coach and/or front office executive. He actually spent 3 seasons working with Dinwiddie in Montreal. Most recently, he served in the USFL/UFL holding titles such as Vice President, Player Personnel, and Director of Player Administration. This recent experience in the UFL could potentially lead to an immediate infusion of experienced players.
At this point, everyone above Dinwiddie in the Football Operations hierarchy has been completely swept out of the organization, clearing a path for a full rebuild with Dinwiddie very much in a position of authority as the team moves forward. It would not be the least bit surprising if the hires Ottawa makes in these positions receive input from Dinwiddie, or even hold previous ties to him, much like Popp.
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