Jacob Roberts has taken the long road to the NFL.
The six-foot-one, 233-pound linebacker signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 6, almost two years after being bypassed in the NFL draft. That allowed the 24-year-old Charlotte, N.C., native to head north, spending parts of two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.
But Roberts' football journey has been fraught with detours and bumps along the way.
He was cut from both his middle school and high school teams, then received just two college offers. Roberts spent four seasons at North Carolina A&T State University, graduating early and transferring to Wake Forest — his favourite university growing up — in 2023, quickly earning a starting spot.
"I've always taken the more difficult route to get to where I want to go in life," Roberts said. "I've had to grind for everything but I'd rather have it that way.
"It teaches you more than just being a good player. It teaches you to keep going, never give up and always count on yourself when no one counts on you and just believe."
Even Roberts' CFL tenure began inauspiciously.
When Calgary first called in 2024, Roberts didn't have a passport. By the time he did, the Stampeders had already signed another player.
Fortunately, Calgary called again. Roberts ended up playing in the Stampeders' final six regular-season games, primarily on special teams.
Roberts cracked Calgary's starting lineup last season, posting a team-high 93 tackles. He also had nine special-teams tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 regular-season contests, proving to be a quick study of ºÃÉ«tv football.
"Just seeing all that motion was definitely something I had to get used to," Roberts said. "Same with receivers running downhill fast before the snap and when you're blitzing having to be a yard off.
"But I feel like I adjusted pretty well. I'm a football player and if you throw me out there, I will make a way."
Roberts is grateful to the Stampeders for the opportunity they provided him.
"It taught me that I can play at the pro level," he said. "I already knew that but it just confirmed it.
"Playing in Calgary with the players and coaches, that was great. I'm very thankful for them giving me an opportunity to go pro and put my talents on display and help them get some good wins."
Roberts might be an NFL player, but now the real work begins. However, he has no plans to change his off-season training program or approach to the game.
"What I'm doing has worked so I'm not going to change anything," he said. "Sometimes people get into a position where they feel like they have to switch things up but they fail to realize what they've been doing got them to where they're at.
"What I'm doing hasn't led me down the wrong path so I'll continue to get better, climb that mountain, chop wood and become the player and person I want to be."
Roberts isn't the only former Stampeder with the Vikings. Jaylon Hutchings, who led all CFL defensive tackles with eight sacks last year, also recently signed with Minnesota.
"Jacob had a great 2025 season and took advantage of his opportunities to showcase his skill set," said Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes, Roberts' Florida-based representative. "Through his hard work and determination he now has a terrific opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings.
"I'm confident he'll continue to grow and succeed, both as a player and person."
Roberts joined the Vikings shortly after an off-season workout with the club. Minnesota posted a 9-8 record to finish third in the NFC North and miss the NFL playoffs.
Roberts is eager to contribute with the Vikings, either on defence or special teams.
"I'm a versatile linebacker and I can fit into a lot of defences and I can definitely fit in anywhere on special teams," he said. "Obviously the (NFL) game might be a little faster … but I'm just a player who can do a lot so I don't really look at it too much as what I need to do to adjust to in the NFL.
"I'm ready to get to work wherever they need me. Wherever they put me, I'm going to get the job done."
After playing two seasons in the CFL, Roberts sees no issues getting re-acclimated to American football.
"Football comes down to running, catching, blocking and tackling and being gap sound," he said. "There's not much of a difference when you really think about the techniques of football, it's just the job has to get done and I'm going to do it."
This report from ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Jan. 19, 2026.
