The Ottawa Redblacks appointed longtime CFL executive Jim Popp as a senior football adviser Monday.
The move comes after the 0-10 club fired vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke on Sunday. Burke's dismissal followed the departure of team president Adrian Sciarra, who stepped down six days earlier.
Popp has spent 28 seasons in the CFL as a coach and front-office executive and has been a part of five Grey Cup-winning teams. He most recently served as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts (2017-19).
“We need to get better, and there is no reason to wait until the off-season to start doing that,” Mark Goudie, the CEO of Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG), said in a statement. "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.”
Ryan Dinwiddie, Ottawa's head coach and GM, welcomed Popp’s involvement.
“I have known Jim for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for what he has accomplished in the CFL," Dinwiddie said. "He brought me to Canada as a player and gave me my start in coaching.
"He has a tremendous network and a proven ability to identify football talent. I’m looking forward to working with him as we continue to build this team.”
Goudie said Popp’s appointment is an advisory role through the remainder of the '26 season. He'll join the CFL club immediately.
Popp spent 21 seasons as the Montreal Alouettes GM (1996-2016), leading the franchise to eight Grey Cup appearances, three championships and 19 playoff appearances. He also won a Grey Cup title with the Baltimore Stallions in 1995.
