The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed defensive back Richard Leonard to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season on Monday.
Richard Leonard is five foot eight and weighs 168 pounds. The 32-year-old from Miami, Florida, made 48 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions in 16 games for the Ticats in 2023. The Ticats signed Leonard as a free agent on February 8, 2022. In 2022, Leonard made 64 tackles, one tackle on special teams, one sack, four interceptions, and one forced fumble in 18 games on his way to being named a CFL East All-Star for the third time in his career.
Before Hamilton, Leonard signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2016. In 2017, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats playing three seasons making 178 tackles, one tackle on special teams, 12 interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 51 games helping the Ticats reach the 2019 Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Then, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2019 making 25 tackles, one sack, and one interception in 13 games.
Collegiately, played four seasons at Florida International University (2011-15) with 205 tackles (150 solo, 55 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions for 276 yards, two touchdowns, 37 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one carry for five yards, 86 kick returns for 2,145 yards, one touchdown, 37 punt returns for 577 yards, and two touchdowns in 49 games for the Panthers. He was named First Team All-C-USA in 2014.
