The B.C. Lions have re-signed American running back James Butler through the 2027 season. He was eligible to become a free agent on February 10.
The five-foot-eight, 215-pound back enters his sixth CFL campaign after recording a career-high 1,213 rushing yards and a CFL-best 11 rushing touchdowns on 229 carries last season. He also added 46 receptions for 439 yards and one major across 17 regular-season games.
Butler recorded 26 touches for 158 scrimmage yards in two playoff contests, including a team-high 58 rushing yards in the Western Final at Saskatchewan.
“JB is one of the most complete running backs in this league, excelling as a runner, catching passes out of the backfield, and holding up in pass protection,” general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a statement.
“He will continue to give coach Pierce a reliable weapon for his offence and another strong leader in our locker room.”
Originally signed by the Lions as a free agent in 2021, Butler sits 13th on the club’s all-time rushing list with 2,770 yards and will crack the top ten with one more 1,000-yard campaign.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old suited up in 27 games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2023 to 2024, rushing for 1,638 yards and nine touchdowns on 345 carries while catching 106 passes for 899 yards and a pair of majors. In his lone playoff appearance with the Cats in the 2023 Eastern Semi-Final, Butler recorded 83 yards on 13 carries.
He previously suited up in pre-season action with the Oakland Raiders in 2018 and would spend the remainder of that season on the practice squad. He moved north to attend Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp in 2019, then returned to Oakland’s practice roster following his release.
In three collegiate seasons with the University of Nevada, Butler rushed for 3,316 yards and 27 touchdowns and added 49 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns. He was named the program’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2016. Butler transferred to Iowa for his final college season of 2017, recording 396 yards and a touchdown on 91 carries.
The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.
