On Wednesday, Tiger-Cats fans finally got the news they had been waiting for: Dane Evans will officially return to the team. The 28-year-old originally signed with Hamilton in 2017, and inked a new two-year deal that will keep him in black and yellow through 2023. While the official numbers have yet to be released, the money is reported to be “middle of the pack” amongst current quarterback contracts.

Regardless of how much Evans is making, the general consensus is that he will be the starter moving forward. Jeremiah Masoli remains in free agency, and is now more likely to find a new team. Evans played less than Masoli last season, but many still believed Evans was the slightly better option for the future. However, that doesn’t mean Masoli lacks talent, and he should have a special place in the heart of all Tiger-Cats fans. Considering he’s been with the franchise since 2013, Masoli’s departure would mark the beginning of a new era.

Evans took his first CFL snap in 2018, and has developed into a reliable option under center. In 2019, he led the Tiger-Cats to a Grey Cup appearance following an injury to Masoli, throwing for over 3,700 yards and 21 touchdowns in the process. There is now little doubt regarding Evans’ abilities, and the team hopes he will lead them to continued success.