Veteran defensive lineman Jefferson agrees to one-year extension with Blue Bombers

By Canadian Press on January 22, 2026.

WINNIPEG — Defensive end Willie Jefferson agreed to a one-year extension with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday.

Jefferson was slated to become a free agent next month.

Jefferson, 34, enters his seventh season with Winnipeg and 12th in the CFL. The six-foot-seven, 244-pound Texan appeared in 17 regular-season games in 2025, recording 15 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and league-high 16 pass knockdowns that tied the club record he set in 2019.

The 16 knockdowns were also the third-most in CFL history. And he enters 2026 with 46 sacks as a Blue Bomber, ranking him fifth all-time in franchise history.

A six-time CFL all-star, Jefferson was the league’s top defensive player in 2019. He has accumulated 77 career sacks and 94 pass knockdowns, the latter being the second-most in league history.

Jefferson is a three-time Grey Cup champion with Edmonton (2015) and Winnipeg (2019, ’21).

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Ottawa Redblacks re-sign American defensive back Bennett Williams

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks re-signed American defensive back Bennett Williams to a one-year contract Thursday.

Williams, 26, was slated to become a free agent next month,

Williams registered 26 total tackles (17 defensive) and two forced fumbles in nine regular-season games last year.

The six-foot, 200-pound Williams enters his third campaign with Ottawa, having recorded 55 total tackles (44 defensive), one sack and two forced fumbles in 20 regular-season appearances with the Redblacks.

Williams spent time with the Miami Dolphins in 2023 after playing collegiately at Oregon and Illinois.