The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed defensive end Willie Jefferson to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season on Monday.
Willie Jefferson is six foot seven and weighs 245 pounds. The 32-year-old from Beaumont, Texas, made 21 tackles, 11 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in 17 games for the Blue Bombers in 2023 on his way to being named a CFL All-Star for the fifth time and a CFL West All-Star for the sixth time of his career. This will be Jefferson’s fifth season in Winnipeg.
Before the CFL, Jefferson signed with the Houston Texans in 2013 as an undrafted free agent from Stephen F. Austin. He played six games with two tackles. Then, he made his CFL debut in 2014 with the Edmonton Eskimos playing two seasons with 40 tackles, ten sacks, and three forced fumbles, helping the Eskimos win the 2015 Grey Cup over the Ottawa Redblacks.
After trying out for the Washington Redskins, Jefferson returned to the CFL this time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2016. He played three seasons in Saskatchewan (2016-18) with 88 tackles, 21 sacks, three interceptions, three touchdowns, and three forced fumbles in 41 games. As a member of the Roughriders, Jefferson was named a two-time CFL All-Star and two-time CFL West All-Star.
In 2019, Jefferson left Saskatchewan to sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In four seasons, Jefferson has 96 tackles, 1 tackle for special teams, 37 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 14 forced fumbles in 67 games. As a member of the Blue Bombers, Jefferson won two Grey Cup championships (2019, 2021), was named CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019, three-time CFL All-Star (2019, 2021, 2023), and a four-time CFL West All-Star (2019-23).
Collegiately, Jefferson played two seasons at Baylor (2009-10) as a wide receiver with six catches for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and one tackle in 15 games.
Then, Jefferson transferred to Stephen F. Austin (2011-12) and switched to defensive end with 65 tackles (43 solo, 22 assists), 26.5 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, two interceptions, two touchdowns, six pass breakups, and six forced fumbles in 22 games, of which 21 were starts for the Lumberjacks.
Jefferson was selected to the Sports Network All-America second team and Phil Steele’s Magazine All-America third team during his two years with the Lumberjacks.
In 2011, Jefferson had 29 tackles (19 solo, 10 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two interceptions, two touchdowns, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 11 games on his way to being named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year.
The following season, Jefferson had 36 tackles (24 solo, 12 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 11 games, of which he started ten of them.
