'I'm happy to be back': Star QB Nathan Rourke returns to the B.C. Lions and CFL (2024)

In a whirlwind 24 hours that saw him go from NFL hopeful to social media-anointed CFL franchise saviour, Nathan Rourke found a moment on Tuesday to express his feelings on being a B.C. Lion again.

Article content

“Happy to be back,” he messaged, before hopping on a flight to Vancouver.

The answers about what happened in his NFL journey will have to wait until after he gets off the plane and steps onto the practice field in Surrey on Wednesday, but Rourke’s NFL dream was shuttered — at least for now — when the Atlanta Falcons released him on the weekend. It was his fourth NFL stop in two years.

But as that dream was put to bed, another rose up — the Lions playing in the Grey Cup, at home, led by a Canadian quarterback.

Article content

The Lions signed Rourke to a three-year deal, with Farhan Lalji reporting it was for $250,000 for the rest of 2024, $749,000 in 2025 and $809,000 in 2026, with $200,000 in the latter two years coming in non-salary cap qualifying marketing money. The 2022 Most Outstanding Canadian had one season as a starter in B.C. — finishing the campaign leading in passer efficiency and yards per game and a completion percentage of 78.7 per cent, setting the new league standard — before riding the momentum into an NFL contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Article content

Article content

The 26-year-old never got his shot to play on the NFL stage, but was committed to trying to make his childhood dream come true. It came as a surprise when he decided to press pause on that pursuit to return to the CFL, even to the Lions, who had maintained contact with him ever since he left. He reached out to the Lions after clearing waivers on Monday, and by Tuesday morning, was once again a member of the team that drafted him.

It turns out this cat did come back.

“When he finally came to the decision that he wanted to look at coming back to Canada and the B.C. Lions, we obviously opened our arms and started discussions and were able to get something done,” said director of football operations Neil McEvoy. “Excited about the opportunity for him coming up here and coming home. That’s one of the things I talked to him about. He always felt love from this club and this country and this league, and unfortunately, he wasn’t getting the type of love he wanted from the other league.”

Article content

When Rourke sustained his Lisfranc (foot) sprain during the 2022 season in B.C., it took just one game for the Lions’ feelings of their remaining quarterbacks to curdle, and they traded for Vernon Adams Jr.

With Adams going out with a knee injury — he is currently still listed as week-to-week — it took one game before the Lions made a similar move. Coach Rick Campbell staunchly defended Adams, saying he wasn’t going anywhere this year, and that his leadership abilities were unquestioned. It was that kind of respect that made Adams the first phone call he made this morning once Rourke’s deal was signed, even before he had talked to his coaching staff.

But how the rest of the room shakes down remains to be seen, with Jake Dolegala and Chase Brice the other two occupants. Brennan Armstrong was added as a practice squad QB just five days ago. At least one player from the 45-man roster will have to go, although Rourke’s Maple Leaf roots give the team more flexibility with the Canadian ratio.

Article content

Campbell expects Rourke to suit up for this weekend’s game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as he is in game shape and already knows the offence, verbiage, and concepts having played under offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic.

“It’s exciting. I didn’t see it on the radar this quickly. It happened fast, and I know Nathan’s definitely excited to get up here and get going,” Campbell said, adding Rourke would be taking the first-team reps in practice.

The Lions have lost three straight games, albeit on the road, but haven’t looked like the team that started the year 5-1. The shine on their championship hopes began to tarnish like an Olympic bronze medal, looking at the losses — all to teams with two or fewer wins, and the shutout to the Bombers a near-universal domination in every phase of the game.

Article content

With Rourke back, the mood and perception has immediately changed.

“This just isn’t any regular player that we’re signing. This is someone who has pedigree within our league and within our country,” said McEvoy. “It’s big. Yesterday … we were talking behind closed doors, and he was (trending on social media) when he was cut and waiting for him to figure out what his next step was. Coming back to Canada maybe wasn’t something people had their eyes on, but it was quite evident to us when we spoke to him after he had cleared waivers. This is a guy that when he was with us in the past, moved the needle in every market, which is something that we had not had as a league, you know, going to Saskatchewan and Toronto and places. He moves the needle. Which is a good for us.

“It’s good for the league. It’s good for Canada.”

jadams@postmedia.com

What people are saying about Rourke’s return to the B.C. Lions

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content