After six seasons in the Canadian Football League, Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. experienced free agency for the first time in his career.
The 28-year-old stated there were no contract extension discussions with the Edmonton Elks leading into the negotiation window.
“It was very quiet, but it’s a business and you can’t take things too personal. I didn’t hear anything from their side,” Gittens Jr. said. “For me, it was trusting my agent Rob Fry and the process, everything’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”
Gittens Jr. did not know what to expect when he was able to communicate with other CFL teams coming off a 2025 season as the seventh-highest paid pass catcher in the three-down league. He played in 17 games for the Green and Gold last year, recording 62 receptions for 777 yards with four touchdowns.
“I feel like from the start, Hamilton showed the most interest, so it was about being patient. We explored a little bit with Toronto. Montreal a little interest, I don’t think it was much really there like put out an offer, but the interest was there. A little bit from Calgary. A little interest from teams feeling the waters and whatnot,” Gittens Jr. said.
“It was Hamilton from the get-go. They had a plan for me and you go where you’re wanted. I felt like Hamilton wanted me the most and I wanted to be there. I wanted to get back to winning football. It was, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ They were really interested in me. It made sense for me.”
Head coach Scott Milanovich spoke with Gittens Jr. during free agency, as did franchise quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. His former Toronto Argonauts teammate, defensive back Jamal Peters was in his ear as well. He heard from players past and present how great the organization treats its players in Steeltown. That all led to him signing a two-year contract with the Tiger-Cats.
The five-foot-11, 191-pound receiver produced the best campaign in his career to date in 2022. He registered 81 receptions for 1,101 yards with five touchdowns to help Toronto win the 109th Grey Cup. The Wilfrid Laurier University product was named a CFL all-star and earned a three-year, $620,000 contract extension. However, there has not been a 1,000-yard year on his resume since.
“I don’t feel like that level ever left, to be quite honest with you. I feel like with the situations I’ve been in, I’ve made the most out of it. I don’t think it’s me necessarily getting back to that level, but I feel like my game has evolved and has gotten better from that point,” Gittens Jr. said.
“I’ve gotten smarter, I’ve gotten faster, I’ve gotten stronger. It’s about the situations that I’ve been in. If you go put on the tape, I feel like I haven’t lost a step. My IQ and my knowledge of the game is growing. Being put in certain situations, I feel like I’ve made the most out of it and coming out of it, it’s going to help me grow stronger as a player with the back end of my career.”
Teaming up with Mitchell could boost Gittens Jr.’s numbers. The 36-year-old has thrown for over 5,200 yards in back-to-back seasons. Two receivers went over 1,100 yards in 2024 with Hamilton while two more finished at 933. Last year, Kenny Lawler, Kiondre Smith and Tim White posted 1,443, 1,126, and 1,016 yards respectively.
White was released by the Ticats and signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His departure left many targets open for Gittens Jr. and Keric Wheatfall who were added to Hamilton’s receiving group while Shemar Bridges was re-signed. Mitchell has a stacked unit on paper to distribute the football to within Milanovich’s proven offensive scheme. Is it the No. 1 pass catching core in the CFL?
“I feel like the only right answer to that is yes. I’m going to say yes, not just because those guys are my teammates, but I’m saying yes because of the way we compliment each other. If you put the film on, what we all do individually, I feel like it all compliments each other,” Gittens Jr. said.
“With Bo being a gunslinger, I feel like all you got to do is be you and make the plays that are there to be made. Bo’s definitely not slowing down. We got to be in the positions we need to be in and make the plays that are there to be made. Everything else is going to work out itself.”
Hamilton hopes its dynamic receivers can help the Ticats win the team’s first Grey Cup since 1999 and end the league’s longest CFL championship drought.
