Willie Jefferson
No. 5     Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Jefferson with the Blue Bombers in 2022
Born: (1991-01-31) January 31, 1991
Beaumont, Texas, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)Defensive end
Height6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight245 lb (111 kg)
CollegeStephen F. Austin
High schoolBeaumont (TX) Ozen
Career history
As player
2013Houston Texans
2014Washington Redskins
2014–2015Edmonton Eskimos
2016*Washington Redskins
2016–2018Saskatchewan Roughriders
2019–presentWinnipeg Blue Bombers
Career highlights and awards
Career stats
Tackles155
Sacks43
Interceptions4
Forced Fumbles12
Defensive Touchdowns4

Willie Hebert Jefferson III[1] (born January 31, 1991) is a Canadian football defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jefferson is a 3-time Grey Cup champion, winning his first ring at the 103rd Grey Cup with Edmonton in 2015. He then won the 107th and 108th Grey Cups when his Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33–12 in 2019, and then again in 2021, 33-25. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019 with the Bombers, and is a three-time CFL and CFL West All-Star. Jefferson played college football at Stephen F. Austin University, he has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Edmonton Eskimos, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Washington Redskins.

Early years

He attended Ozen High School. He was selected to the 4A all-state second-team in his senior year in high school.[2] He was selected to the First-team All-District 20-4 and Port Arthur News Super Team while at high school.[2]

College career

He started his career as a wide receiver at Baylor University but was kicked off of the team after he and teammate Josh Gordon were found asleep in Jefferson's car at a local Taco Bell with marijuana in the car. Jefferson, who was driving, was kicked off the team due to it being his second violation. He transferred to Stephen F Austin and was named 2011 Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year in his Junior season. He led the Southland Conference in sacks with 16.[2] He was selected to the Sports Network All-America second team, Phil Steele's Magazine All-America third team.[2]

Professional career

Houston Texans

On April 27, 2013, he signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft.[3]

The Texans released Jefferson, along with two others players, on October 21, 2013 for unspecified violations of team rules prior to a game in Kansas City.[4]

Edmonton Eskimos

In 2014, Jefferson signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[5] Jefferson played for two seasons with the Eskimos, playing in 35 games, contributing 40 defensive tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Washington Redskins

Jefferson signed a futures contract with the Washington Redskins on January 14, 2016.[6] On August 27, 2016, Jefferson was waived by the Redskins.[7]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

In September 2016, Jefferson returned to the CFL and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders rejoining his head coach from Edmonton.[8] Jefferson was named a CFL All-Star in 2017, and in 2018 was nominated as the teams Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player after recording his first season with double digit sacks, and a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns.[9] Jefferson was again named to the CFL All-Star Team alongside teammate Charleston Hughes.[10][11]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On February 12, 2019, it was announced that Jefferson had signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers through the 2019 season. Jefferson felt the Roughriders' offer did not match his market value; he was also courted by the Toronto Argonauts, but signed with the Blue Bombers for $210,000 CND.[12] Jefferson's most notable performance came against Edmonton, where he recorded four tackles (two for a loss), three sacks, two forced fumbles, recovered another fumble, knocked down two passes, recovered an onside kick attempt, and scored a rouge when he kicked a fumble through the endzone.[13]

Jefferson at Winnipeg's 2021 Grey Cup celebration.

By season's end, Jefferson played in all 18 games and made 24 tackles and caught an interception; he also set new career highs for sacks and forced fumbles, with 12 and 6 respectively, he also set the CFL record for a defensive lineman with 16 pass knockdowns.[14] Jefferson's strong play in the playoffs, together with his fellow defensive linemen Jackson Jeffcoat, Drake Nevis, and Jake Thomas saw the Bombers defence control the games against the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders, to lead the Bombers to the 107th Grey Cup. In the championship game Jefferson had two tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, with a dominant performance that saw the Bombers end their 29 year Grey Cup drought. After the game he said that "I just had to come out here and give it my all. I had my dad, my mom, my wife and my daughter. I couldn't come out here and play a mediocre game in front of my family."[15] For the second consecutive year, Jefferson won the award for both Most Outstanding Player, and Defensive Player for his team, he ultimately won the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award for his performance over the course of the 2019 CFL season.[16][17]

After the season, Jefferson had a tryout with the Miami Dolphins which had gone well and he turned down other NFL tryouts.[18] Prior to the next season, Jefferson signed a two year contract extension keeping him in Winnipeg through the 2021 season at approximately $265,000 a year.[19] Unfortunately the 2020 CFL season was cancelled as a result of the pandemic but Jefferson would return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the 2021 season.

Jefferson would help the Blue Bombers thrive in their title defending season. Winnipeg finished the season with the best record in the CFL and Jefferson and the Bombers defence led the league in yards and points allowed. He finished the season with seven sacks, 18 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions with one of those returned for a touchdown. Jefferson's stellar play meant that he was named a CFL All-Star for the fourth season in a row.[20] The Bombers would defeat the Roughriders to go to the 108th Grey Cup and defend their title. In the 2021 Grey Cup final game, Willie Jefferson and the Blue Bombers top rated defensive unit helped the team to their 12th Grey Cup title, and second in a row, defeating the hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Overtime, 33 - 25. After the extra time win Jefferson said that "We’re behind enemy lines, fans on our backs, city against us and we had to come out here and show these guys who we are. If it had to go into overtime to do that, that’s where we did it. It was tense, but we just had to stick it out. I had no doubt at all."[21]

Jefferson continued his stellar play in the 2022 CFL season, contributing with 33 defensive tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception and one touchdown. Jefferson was named a West-Division All-Star for the fifth consecutive season. The Bombers went to their third consecutive Grey Cup match but were defeated by the Toronto Argonauts. Following the season, on November 26, 2022, Jefferson and the Bombers agreed to a one-year contract extension.[22]

Statistics

CFL

Legend
* Led the league
≈ Won the Grey Cup
± Grey Cup MVP
Bold Career high
  Defence
Year Team GP GS DT QS PKD Int FF FR TD
2014 EDM 171019460010
2015 EDM 18624640300
2016 SSK 548340100
2017 SSK 181845860011
2018 SSK 1818341032222
2019 WPG 1818251201620
2020 WPG Season cancelled
2021 WPG 141418752311
2022 WPG 1818337101201
CFL totals 126106202573861875

[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Baylor Bears Profile". baylorbears.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-27. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Stephen F. Austin Profile". sfajacks.cstv.com.
  3. ↑ Alper, Josh (2013-05-10). "Texans sign four draft picks, 23 undrafted free agents". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  4. ↑ Ganguli, Tania (October 21, 2013). "Sources: Pot reason Texans cut 3". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Edmonton Eskimos have their own no. 99 in Willie Jefferson". edmontonsun.com.
  6. ↑ Smith, Michael (January 14, 2016). "Former Texans troublemaker Willie Jefferson lands in Washington". NBCSports.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  7. ↑ "8/27:Redskins Make Roster Moves". Redskins.com.
  8. ↑ "Willie Jefferson returns to the CFL wearing green, but not the shade of the double-E". Edmonton Journal. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  9. ↑ "CFL announces 2018 team award winners - CFL.ca". CFL.ca. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  10. ↑ "Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars announced". 7 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "Stars aligned: 2018 CFL All-Stars unveiled". Canadian Football League. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  12. ↑ Justin Dunk (August 27, 2019). "Willie Jefferson lowballed by Riders; took less choosing Bombers". Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  13. ↑ Ted Wyman (August 24, 2019). "BOMBSHELLS: Bombers raving about dominant performance from defensive end Willie Jefferson". National Post. Retrieved 2019-11-22.
  14. ↑ "Bombers' Willie Jefferson named CFL's outstanding defensive player". Winnipeg Free Press. November 21, 2019.
  15. ↑ Devin Heroux (November 25, 2019). "Drought over, pants on: Bombers deliver a Grey Cup win for the ages". CBC Sports.
  16. ↑ Ted Wyman (November 22, 2019). "Bombers' Jefferson wins CFL's most outstanding defensive player award". National Post.
  17. ↑ "CFL Announces 2019 Team Award Winners". CFL. October 30, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Reigning CFL MODP Willie Jefferson turned down multiple NFL workout requests". 3DownNation.com. January 5, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Jefferson re-signs with Winnipeg Blue Bombers". CBC Manitoba. February 10, 2020.
  20. ↑ Ed Tait (December 15, 2021). "11 Bombers Named CFL All-Star". Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
  21. ↑ Ted Wyman (December 14, 2021). "Blue Review: The glory days of Bombers football are upon us after second straight Grey Cup win". Winnipeg Sun.
  22. ↑ TSN ca Staff (2022-11-26). "Willie Jefferson one-year contract extension Winnipeg Blue Bombers". TSN. Retrieved 2022-11-28.
  23. ↑ "2022 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. p. 86. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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