Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Qadree Ollison is back playing professional football after spending the last year off the field.
Ollison — a 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back from Niagara Falls, N.Y. — signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on Tuesday, the team announced on social media .
It's the first time Ollison has gone up north to continue his professional football career, after spending five seasons in the NFL. But he will have a greater opportunity to compete for playing time with the Lions.
A Pitt alum, Ollison was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons and spent three seasons in Atlanta. He spent time with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster.
The Jaguars signed Ollison to a reserve/future contract before the 2023 season but waived him at the end of preseason.
He signed with the Steelers practice squad on Sept. 2, 2023 and was elevated for two games, where he played mostly on special teams. The Steelers released Ollison on Dec. 11.
Ollison attended rookie minicamp with the New York Jets on a tryout basis ahead of the 2024 season, but was otherwise out of the league.
In five NFL seasons, Ollison has recorded 44 carries for 158 yards (3.6 yards per carry) an five touchdowns and five catches for 19 yards. But he didn't play during the 2024 season.
Qadree Ollison (30) in the ACC Championship Game December 1, 2018 — David Hague/PSN
Ollison arrived at Pitt as the top-rated running back in New York out of Canisius High School and after redshirting in 2014, he emerged as a key member on of the Panthers ' offense. He earned All-ACC honors in 2015 and 2018, racking up 2,859 yards and 29 touchdowns on 529 carries between 2015-18.
As a senior in 2018, Ollison led Pitt with 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns (at a robust 6.3 yards per carry), and he added 66 more yards on 11 receptions out of the backfield.
A version of this story first appeared at our partner site, Pittsburgh Sports Now . Karl Ludwig contributed.
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