At the 2025 CFL Awards on Thursday night, B.C. Lions offensive lineman Andrew Peirson was named the 2025 Tom Pate Memorial Award. The award is named after former player Tom Pate, a 23-year-old who was injured in a game against the Calgary Stampeders in 1975 and died three days later.
The Tom Pate Award is selected annually by the Canadian Football League Players’ Association, is awarded to a player with outstanding sportsmanship and someone who has made a significant contribution to his team, his community, and Association.
Andrew Peirson is six foot three and weighs 300 pounds. The 30-year-old from Kingston, Ontario, re-signed with the B.C. Lions on January 23, 2025. In 2025, he dressed for 18 games, making six starts at center. B.C.’s offense averaged 29.8 points per game, 430.2 net offense per game, 113.4 rushing yards per game, 325.4 passing yards per game, 59 touchdowns, and allowed 20 sacks.
The B.C. Lions signed Peirson as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2018. He wrapped up his eighth season with the B.C. Lions, playing 87 games. In 2023, Peirson played 18 games. B.C.’s offense ranked third in average points (26.1), touchdowns (45), net offense (371.2), first in average passing yards (315.1), ninth in average rushing yards (77.3), and sixth in sacks allowed (53).
In 2024, Peirson played two preseason games before he was released on June 2, 2024, and re-signed with the Lions on June 3, 2024. He started 12 games playing multiple positions on the offensive line. B.C.’s offense averaged 24.9 points per game, 364.0 net offense per game, 101 yards per game, 283.3 passing yards per game, 42 touchdowns, and allowed 43 sacks.
Collegiately, Peirson played four seasons at Gannon University (2014-17) with 17 tackles (2 solos, 15 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in 29 games for the Golden Knights. In 2016, Gannon’s offensive line ranked fifth among Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams and 43rd nationally in rushing yards per game (187.8).
They helped pave the way for a rushing attack that produced a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game twice, along with pass blocking for Zach Phillips, who threw for the eighth-most yards (1,724) in program history.
In 2017, Gannon averaged 38.73 points per game, 278.3 rushing yards per game, 187.18 passing yards per game, 465.5 total yards per game, 61 touchdowns, and allowed 16 sacks, finishing 5-6 for the season.
