A new chapter began for the BC Lions on Wednesday as the team made two significant changes.

The Lions announced that they had parted ways with Head Coach and Co-General Manager Rick Campbell, and promoted Ryan Rigmaiden to the role of General Manager.

Neil McEvoy, who had served as Co-General Manager for the past four years, is now taking on the role of President of Football Operations.

President Duane Vienneau expressed gratitude for Campbell’s contributions, stating, “We thank Rick Campbell for playing a major role in bringing our franchise back to respectability and contention while navigating us through some very tough waters upon his arrival. He’s a great coach and a great friend.”

He also highlighted the team’s confidence in McEvoy and Rigmaiden, noting that preparation for the 2025 season was already underway, with the ultimate goal remaining to contend for the Grey Cup year after year.

Campbell joined the Lions ahead of the 2020 season, which was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

His first full season in charge was 2021, when the Lions finished with a 5-9 record, missing the playoffs. While this was an improvement over the 5-13 mark of the previous season, it was still a tough campaign.

In 2022 and 2023, the Lions showed strong form, finishing the regular season at 12-6 in both years. However, they fell short in the playoffs, losing in the Western Final after winning their respective Semi-Final games at home.

The 2024 season brought mixed results. The Lions ended the regular season with a 9-9 record and were eliminated from the playoffs in the Western Semi-Final, losing 19-28 to Saskatchewan.

Expectations had been high for the team, especially since they were set to host the Grey Cup that year. Owner Amar Doman had provided significant resources to the team, including allowing the Lions to exceed the salary cap.

High-profile signings included the return of quarterback Nathan Rourke, who rejoined the Lions after starting the season with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and defensive end Mathieu Betts, who came back after a stint with the Detroit Lions.

Vienneau addressed the team’s disappointing performance in 2024 during a media conference, saying, “Our owner has given us all the tools we need to build this football team, I just don’t feel like we performed this year like we’ve performed in the last couple of years and sometimes you have to make a change to get to that next level.” Despite the disappointing outcome, Campbell’s coaching ability has not gone unnoticed.

Already, the Edmonton Elks have expressed interest in interviewing Campbell for their vacant head coaching position, with permission from the Lions to proceed.

In addition to Campbell’s departure, the Lions made another major announcement: they are exploring options to trade quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

Adams had started the 2024 season as the Lions’ starting quarterback and had shown promise before an injury derailed his campaign.

General Manager Rigmaiden confirmed that the team would begin reaching out to potential trade partners immediately, saying, “We’re going to start making those phone calls literally tonight and we’ll gauge that market.” Rigmaiden acknowledged Adams’ leadership and talent, adding, “He’s a tremendous quarterback.

You guys know what kind of leader and what kind of personality he is. Anybody that isn’t firm on quarterback, I think is going to want to at least have a conversation.”

Adams had a strong start to the season, throwing for 2,395 yards, 14 touchdowns, and five interceptions through the first seven games. He was on track to finish with the third-most passing yards in a single CFL season.

However, his performance in game eight was marred by both a poor outing and an injury sustained in a loss to Winnipeg. Adams returned for the Lions’ final regular-season game against Montreal, where he threw for 385 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

His playoff performance against Saskatchewan saw him pass for 317 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions, but the Lions’ season ended in a loss.

While Adams has proven to be a capable quarterback, the Lions may struggle to get substantial trade value for him.

The 2024 CFL season saw a deep pool of talented quarterbacks, with players like Davis Alexander of Montreal and Nick Arbuckle of Toronto gaining attention. Many quarterbacks will be entering free agency, and with several options available, it could be challenging for the Lions to secure a high return for Adams.

Additionally, Adams is under contract through 2026, having signed a substantial extension last offseason, which could complicate matters from a salary cap perspective.

Ryan Rigmaiden, who now takes over as General Manager, has been with the Lions in various roles for many years.

He joined the team in 2013 and worked as Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel from 2020 to 2023.

He also spent time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as Director of College Scouting from 2018 to 2020. Before his CFL career, Rigmaiden worked in the Arena Football League, where he rose to the role of General Manager for the Spokane Shock in 2010.

With Rigmaiden at the helm as General Manager, the Lions hope to make the necessary changes to take the team to the next level and continue their pursuit of Grey Cup contention.

The moves made on Wednesday mark the beginning of a new era for the franchise as they shift their focus toward building a more successful future.