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Tiger-Cats QB Bo Levi Mitchell Wants to Stay Put in Hamilton

After speculation that Bo Levi Mitchell might not be a member of the Tiger-Cats in 2024, the tone may have shifted with the quarterback's recent comments.

Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell made his feelings known about his frustration with playing time in the Tiger-Cats' 27-12 playoff loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

After throwing just four passes in the fourth quarter of the game, Mitchell voiced his doubts about his future with the team to TSN’s Matthew Scianitti.

“If you’re not playing your highest-paid player on the team in a playoff game, I don’t foresee myself probably being here,” Mitchell said.

Jun 18, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (19) is escorted off the field by team head therapist Claire Tofflemire after suffering an injury against the Toronto Argonauts in the fourth quarter at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Tiger-Cats will have to decide if they want to retain Bo Levi Mitchell for 2024 as he enters the second year of his contract.

This has sparked a conversation about whether Mitchell will be back with the team after just one season. It appears that tensions may have lifted, even with the coaching change to Scott Milanovich.

During an interview with CHCH Morning Live’s Tim Bolen, Mitchell expressed that even though he and Milanovich have “butted heads," he has a ton of respect for him.

“He’s an amazing coach," Mitchell asserted. "We’ve butted heads at times, but I’ve butted heads with almost every coach I’ve had. It’s what makes a quarterback-and-coach relationship so beautiful.

“He has an amazing mind. When he came last year, our team definitely went on a positive trajectory, so I’m very much looking forward to working with him.”

Bolen followed up by asking Mitchell if he was leaving. Mitchell made it clear that it wasn’t his intention.

“I’m trying not to. I want to be here.”

Mitchell spent the first decade of his pro career in Calgary, where he led the Stampeders to two Grey Cups and earned the CFL Most Outstanding Player Award twice. He also added a pair of CFL All-Star selections and three CFL West All-Star selections to his resume as well.

Injuries heavily impacted Mitchell’s playing time during his final three years in Calgary, a trend that continued after he signed with Hamilton. He finished the 2023 season with 1,031 yards and six touchdowns to ten interceptions in six games played, missing stretches of time to an adductor injury and a fracture to his lower right leg, then sharing playing time in the final three regular-season games with Matthew Shiltz and Taylor Powell.

The Tiger-Cats made the postseason with an 8-10 overall record before losing to Montreal in the playoffs. The team announced a restructure to their organization that included changes to the president of football operations, general manager and coach. Now it will come down to whether the team wants to retain Mitchell for 2024 as he enters the second year of his three-year contract.

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