The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have added former NFL running back James Robinson to their negotiation list.
Robinson was previously added to Hamilton’s neg list on January 26, but removed on March 9 after he signed in the United Football League. The Louisville Kings reportedly released the 27-year-old as part of their final roster cuts on Thursday, prompting his re-addition.
The native of Rockford, Ill., is staging a comeback after last playing in the NFL during the 2024 preseason with the New Orleans Saints. He previously spent time with the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars, suited up in 40 career games over four seasons.
Robinson is best remembered for his rookie campaign in 2020 with the Jaguars, when he carried the ball 240 times for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 344 yards and three majors, earning him a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team.
Fellow players voted Robinson as the 100th-best player in the NFL entering the 2021 season, but his production declined, and he suffered a torn Achilles. The following year, he was traded to the New York Jets, but would never regain his initial form. In his career, he ran 515 times for 2,264 yards and 18 touchdowns, while adding 92 receptions for 615 yards and five scores.
Prior to his time in the NFL, the five-foot-nine, 219-pound ball carrier was a first-team All-American for Illinois State University. He amassed 797 collegiate carries for 4,444 yards and 44 touchdowns, while catching 58 passes for 428 yards and two majors in 46 games with the Redbirds.
CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and have never played in the league before. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.
Being added to a negotiation list does not mean that the player has expressed interest in the CFL, and some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed. Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats added several talented players in free agency, including quarterback Tre Ford, receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., linebacker Wynton McManis, and returner Mario Alford. The team’s key departures included running back Greg Bell (Ottawa Redblacks), receiver Tim White (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey (Edmonton Elks), and defensive back DaShaun Amos (Toronto Argonauts).
The Tiger-Cats hold the fifth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Hamilton will play its first preseason game against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, May 23, and its first regular-season game against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, June 4.
In 2025, Hamilton finished first in the East Division standings with an 11-7 record, though the team lost the East Final to the Montreal Alouettes.
