Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros says he will likely not make a retirement decision until January after the Blue Bombers’ 2026 season ended with a loss to Montreal.
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The end of the 2026 CFL season could mark a major change for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, with quarterback Zach Collaros saying he is putting off a decision about retirement for now.
After the Blue Bombers lost 33-23 to the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL’s East Division final on Saturday, Collaros spoke on Sunday and said he has been thinking more about his future “as I’ve gotten older,” adding that it is “in the back of my head.”
The 38-year-old American said he probably will not decide whether he is ready to retire until January. “A career’s a career … I don’t really care about the player aspect of it,” Collaros said. “But just being able to be part of this organization, being around the people that I’ve been able to be around, I’ll never forget it. It’s been just such an amazing journey and an amazing blessing to be in this community.”
Collaros said contract-extension discussions began early in the season but were derailed when he hurt his neck in a road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 5. He said there have not been any discussions since, and that his situation could continue to change: “I would have thought I was going to play another couple of years, so everything changes day-to-day and things happen and we’ll see.”
Over the regular season, Collaros passed for 2,989 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He missed six games with injuries, then sat out the East Division semifinal win over the Toronto Argonauts after picking up a rib injury on Oct. 23.
Collaros was a game-time decision for the East final after the rib injury and had been the face of the franchise since joining Winnipeg in a trade with Toronto in October 2019. He guided Winnipeg to five consecutive Grey Cup appearances, winning in 2019 and 2021 and losing the next three.
Running back Brady Oliveira said Collaros has been “Bomber royalty” for the franchise, while noting the drought ended after Collaros arrived and Winnipeg won the Grey Cup in 2019 with him as a key part of the team. Oliveira also said the club can still win without a full rebuild if veteran players change course.
Other veteran players are also considering retirement. Offensive lineman Stanley Bryant said he is “mentally” fine but that “the body always plays a part,” while noting he has been named the league’s top offensive lineman four times over a 16-year career. Patrick Neufeld, who has played 13 of his 15 CFL seasons with Winnipeg, said he is thinking about his young family and that things hurt more as he gets older.
Defensive end Willie Jefferson, 35, said he felt he had a good season and wants to come back for an eighth campaign with the Blue Bombers. “I hope other guys don’t rush into make a decision (on their futures),” Jefferson said, adding, “Enjoy the offseason, enjoy this next couple of days we have together with the 2026 Bomber team. And whatever 2027 holds, I hope the best for everybody.”
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