Montreal Alouettes quarterback Antonio Pipkin, left, is sacked by BC Lions Bo Lokombo during first half CFL football in Montreal, Friday, September 14, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
VANCOUVER – Bo Lokombo is calling it a career.
The B.C. Lions veteran Canadian linebacker announced his retirement Tuesday. The six-foot-one, 230-pound Lokombo had 30 tackles, one special-teams tackle, three sacks and a forced fumble in 14 regular-season games in 2024.
“At 34 years old, I felt it was the right time,” Lokombo said in a statement released by the Lions. “I want to be closer to my family.
“The only thing I’m going to miss is competing with my brothers for a championship. I will be cheering on the guys, supporting not only the Lions but the CFL as a whole.”
B.C. drafted Lokombo in the third round, 21st overall, in the 2013 CFL draft but he returned to play at Oregon that season. He signed with the Lions in September, 2014.
He played eight of his nine CFL seasons with B.C. (2014-16, 2018, 2021-24). He was with Montreal in 2019 after spending time in the NFL with Baltimore, Oakland and San Francisco.
Lokombo was dealt to Toronto in 2020 but the CFL didn’t play that year due to the Global pandemic. The Argos released Lokombo in January, 2021.
He appeared in 129 career CFL regular-season games, recording 370 tackles, 92 special-teams tackles, 17 sacks, eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. He also scored a defensive touchdown.
Lokombo stands 11th on B.C.’s all-time list with 319 tackles.
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Redblacks sign veteran punter Leone to contract extension
OTTAWA – The Ottawa Redblacks signed veteran American punter Richie Leone to a one-year contract extension.
He was scheduled to become a free agent next month.
Leone, 32, posted a 48-yard average over 99 punts last season. His average was third-best in the CFL.
He also recorded 57 kickoffs, averaging 60.5 yards per attempt.
Leone enters his seventh CFL campaign with Ottawa. He began his career in Canada with B.C. in 2015 before joining the Redblacks in 2018 and is a five-time league all-star.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2025.
