Inside the CFL:Rourke could be one of the greats, and he’s homegrown

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 23, 2025.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

He is the brightest star to come into the league since Doug Flutie. And, he’s a Canadian.

Nicknamed “Kid Canada” at Ohio University, Nathan Rourke has become Captain Canada today with an excellent chance to lead his B.C. Lions to the Grey Cup and winning the CFL Most Outstanding Player Award along the way.

He is an inspiration to all of us who want the league to become more Canadian.

Rourke was born in Victoria, B.C., grew up in Oakville, Ont. and took his Grade 12 year at a football academy in Alabama.

Describing it as a cultural shock, he nonetheless won a scholarship to a junior college. He then transferred to Ohio University where he excelled.

But in the 2020 Canadian College Draft he wasn’t picked until the second round, 15th overall by B.C.

Just like the NFL deemed Doug Flutie too small and Warren Moon too black, i.e. dumb, to play quarterback, the traditional prejudice largely American coaches had in the CFL for Canadian quarterbacks was evident.

Still in 2021, the Lions signed him to a three-year contract. He backed up Mike Reilly his first year before becoming the starter in 2022. He set a record for passing yards in a game with 436 vs. Toronto, a mark he beat a week later when he threw five TD passes against the Elks.

He sustained a foot injury that required surgery. Despite playing only 10 games, he won the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Award.

Rourke spent the next year and a half in a futile effort to make it in the NFL. Finally realizing there is no place like home, he came back to the Lion’s den in August 2024 where he signed another three-year deal. It was an up-and-down year, sharing starting duties with Vernon Adams Jr.

The big hi-lite was setting the single-season passing record by a Canadian, held for over 50 years by Russ Jackson, a remarkable achievment since he only started nine games.

With one game remaining in this campaign (in Saskatchewan) his offence is first in points, net offence and passing. Rourke is second to Bo Levi Mitchell with 28 TD strikes. His efficiency rating is second to Trevor Harris. He ranks eighth in rushing with 559 yards.

When I talked to him a few days ago, I referred to his spectacular 70-yard touchdown run against Edmonton last week, telling him, “That was vintage Flutie. I saw him do that in Calgary on many occasions.”

Modest as he is, he was quite taken aback by my comparing him to Flutie.

“That is quite the honour, obviously” he replied. “I feel he is one of, if not the greatest in the history of the CFL, so I consider it to be a tremendous honour even to be mentioned in the same sentence as him.”

I have a theory that great quarterbacks show signs of what’s to come right away.

They don’t take years to develop. When I mentioned that to him, using examples like Matt Dunigan, Russ Jackson, Jeff Garcia, Damon Allen and others, he thoughtfully replied,

“Hmm. Hmm. Yeah, I think there is something to that for sure. I think, though, truly easier said than done. You mentioned a lot of great players who had an opportunity to make their mark and they had their moment they were able to make the most of. I think that’s the sign of a great player.”

Playoff time?

“That’s what we’ve been focussing on since training camp. I think that’s when you can really separate yourself as a player. When it comes to legacy and stuff, it’s less what you do in the regular season and more what you do in the post season.”

I thanked him for taking a strong stand against the league’s rule changes, calling them “garbage.”

“Yes, of course, my pleasure. You asked me about my obligation to the kids to encourage them to play quarterback. I did feel I had an obligation to speak out, just as a Canadian player, someone who grew up with the Canadian game. I know there were others less inclined to say something.”

Nathan Rourke is a tremendous young man who loves his country and the game he plays.

Playing the role of Captain Canada is vital with our league under threat from within.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 53 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.