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Obby Khan

Obby Khan is a Canadian former professional football centre, entrepreneur and politician.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Obby Khan is a Canadian former professional football centre, entrepreneur and politician. He played nine seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Ottawa Renegades, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders. Since 2022, he has served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, and in 2025 he became the party's leader.

Early life and education

Khan was born in Ottawa, Ontario, under the birth name Ibrahim Khan. He attended Simon Fraser University, where he developed his football skills and graduated.

CFL career

Khan was selected second overall in the 2004 CFL draft by the Ottawa Renegades. He played as an offensive lineman, primarily at centre, for the Renegades, and later joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders after the Renegades folded. His CFL career spanned from 2004 to 2012, after which he retired from professional football.

Business and post-football work

After retiring from football, Khan became an entrepreneur in Winnipeg. He is associated with Shawarma Khan restaurants and other local businesses.

Political career

Khan was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the constituency of Fort Whyte in 2022 as a Progressive Conservative. In 2025, he became the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, described in available sources as the first Muslim and South Asian leader of the party.

Key facts

  • Played nine seasons in the CFL as an offensive lineman, mainly at centre.
  • Was drafted second overall by the Ottawa Renegades in the 2004 Canadian college draft.
  • Was elected MLA for Fort Whyte in Manitoba in 2022.
  • Became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2025.
  • Is described as the first Muslim and South Asian leader of the Manitoba PC party.
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Canadian context

Khan is a Manitoba politician and a former Canadian Football League player, making him relevant to both Canadian sports history and provincial politics. His career is closely associated with Winnipeg and Manitoba.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Obby Khan?
Obby Khan is a Canadian former CFL centre, entrepreneur and politician from Ottawa, Ontario.
What teams did Obby Khan play for in the CFL?
He played for the Ottawa Renegades, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders.
When did Obby Khan retire from football?
He retired from professional football in 2012.
What political office does Obby Khan hold?
He is the MLA for Fort Whyte in Manitoba and the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.
What is Obby Khan’s birth name?
His birth name is Ibrahim Khan.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obby_Khan
    Supports: Birth name, date of birth, CFL teams, political roles, leadership of Manitoba PC Party
  2. CFL.ca — https://www.cfl.ca/2011/03/09/obby-khan-back-with-bombers/
    Supports: CFL career details, position, teams, draft information
  3. Manitoba Bisons — https://gobisons.ca/news/2012/7/19/FB_2366.aspx
    Supports: Retirement from football in 2012 and coaching role with the Bisons
  4. StatsCrew — https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-khanobb001
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, college, career span, positions, teams
  5. Obby Khan official site — https://obbykhan.ca/
    Supports: MLA for Fort Whyte, entrepreneur profile, CFL career summary
  6. 3DownNation — https://3downnation.com/2025/04/27/longtime-cfl-player-obby-khan-voted-new-leader-of-progressive-conservative-party-of-manitoba/
    Supports: Election as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba in 2025