Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Nic Demski (10) is tackled by Montreal Alouettes linebacker Darnell Sankey (1) and defensive back Ciante Evans (4) during 110th CFL Grey Cup football action in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Sankey has signed a two-year contract extension with the Grey Cup-champion Alouettes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
MONTREAL – Darnell Sankey is staying put.
The veteran linebacker has signed a two-year contract extension with the Grey Cup-champion Montreal Alouettes, the team announced Friday. Sankey was slated to become a free agent in February.
A CFL source said Sankey’s extension is worth more than $340,000.
The six-foot-one, 245-pound Sankey signed with Montreal on Sept. 11 and registered 31 tackles, a sack and interception in six regular-season games.
But he was a force in the playoffs, recording 22 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble in the Alouettes three contests.
“I liked what we built this year, both on and off the field,” Sankey said in a release. “My goal is to continue to help the team succeed.
“I am already looking forward to getting back on the field and winning.”
Sankey had eight tackles and a sack in Montreal’s 28-24 Grey Cup win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Nov. 19 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field.
Sankey suited up for Montreal just four days after signing with the club, a 23-20 home loss to Toronto. That gave the Argonauts (then 11-1) first in the East Division while the Alouettes fell to 6-7.
Afterwards, Sankey vowed Montreal wouldn’t lose again in 2023 and it didn’t. The Alouettes (11-7) finished the regular season with five straight wins to take second in the East.
After dispatching the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 27-12 in the conference semifinal, the Alouettes upset Toronto (16-2) in the division final 38-17 at BMO Field.
Montreal didn’t allow a touchdown against Hamilton. Then it forced nine turnovers (four interceptions, four times on downs, fumble) versus Toronto, returning two interceptions for TDs.
Montreal ended its campaign with eight straight wins. The last two came over the CFL’s top two teams as the Alouettes captured their first Grey Cup title since 2010.
The 2023 season will certainly be one to remember for Sankey.
In May, he was a member of an Arlington Renegades team that upset the D.C. Defenders 35-26 in the XFL final. Arlington finished the regular season with a 4-6 record compared to 9-1 for the Defenders.
Sankey, 29, joined the Renegades following two productive seasons in Canada. The San Jose, Calif., native was the CFL’s leading tackler with Calgary (98 in 2021) and Saskatchewan (122 in 2022) before signing with Arlington.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2023.
