The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed kicker Sergio Castillo on Thursday shortly after he was released by the Edmonton Elks earlier in the day. This will be Castillo’s third stint in Winnipeg.
Sergio Castillo is five foot eleven and weighs 196 pounds. The 32-year-old from La Joya, Texas, converted 37 of 44 field goals (84.1%) with a long of 52 yards, made 26 of 29 extra point conversions, and punted the ball eight times for 266 yards in 18 games for the Elks in 2022.
Castillo signed with the Elks as a free agent in 2022 after playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2021. It was his second stint in Winnipeg. He made 7 of 9 field goals (77.8%) with a long of 50 yards, and made 4 of 5 extra point conversions in three games, helping the Blue Bombers win their second Grey Cup title.
Castillo signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2014 but was released after one preseason game. Then, he signed with the Blue Bombers in 2015. He made 10 of 13 field goals (76.9%) with a long of 48 yards, converted 5 of 6 extra points, and eight punts for 320 yards in four games. In 2016, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks and punted the ball 13 times for 13 yards in two games before being released.
After Ottawa, Castillo signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2017, making 29 of 34 field goals with a long of 57 yards, converted 20 of 21 extra points, and punted the ball 93 times for 3,181 yards in 14 games before missing the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
In 2018, he returned to Ottawa for a tryout but did not make the team. A year later, he signed with the San Antonio Commanders (AAF) but was released before the season started. Not long after being released, Castillo signed with the B.C. Lions. He made 41 of 45 field goals (91.1%) with a long of 52 yards, converted 30 of 33 extra points, and punted the ball 20 times for 598 yards. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star in 2019.
After the Lions, Castillo was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in 2020. He made 5 of 9 field goals (55.6%) with a long of 44 yards. After the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season in which he signed with the B.C. Lions, Castillo signed with the New York Jets in 2020. He made 8 of 13 field goals (61.5%) with a long of 55 yards and converted 6 of 7 extra points. In 2021, returned to the CFL, signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collegiately, Castillo played four seasons at West Texas A&M (2010-13) making 38 of 49 field goals in his career with a long of 56, converting 174 of 177 extra points. He ranks third all-time in school history in scoring at 288 points. He is a two-time All-Lone Star Conference First Team.
