Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Willie Jefferson (5) celebrates a sack on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Maier (9) by James Vaughters (93) and Cameron Lawson (99) during first half CFL action in Winnipeg, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson reacts during practice ahead of the Grey Cup against the Toronto Argonauts in Vancouver on Saturday, November 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Willie Jefferson (5) celebrates a sack on Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Maier (9) by James Vaughters (93) and Cameron Lawson (99) during first half CFL action in Winnipeg, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson reacts during practice ahead of the Grey Cup against the Toronto Argonauts in Vancouver on Saturday, November 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
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.Â
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.
This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Jan. 22, 2026.
