On Tuesday, veteran defensive lineman Shawn Lemon announced he was unretiring and re-joining the Montreal Alouettes while filing an appeal against the CFL’s gambling suspension. During this time, Lemon is allowed to participate in practice with the Montreal Alouettes until an independent arbitrator rules on the matter.
Shawn Lemon abruptly announced his retirement on April 10, 2024, after a 12-year CFL career. Then, on April 24, 2024, the CFL suspended Lemon indefinitely for betting CFL games including one in which he played while a member of the Calgary Stampeders in 2021.
However, the CFL said that no evidence was found to indicate matches were in any way impacted by his wagering. In addition, no evidence was found to indicate that any Calgary coaches, teammates, nor team personnel were aware of his actions.
“The CFL has been made aware of the CFLPA’s decision to grieve Shawn Lemon’s indefinite suspension for wagering on CFL games, including one in which he played. The CFL is disappointed that the Players’ Association would challenge a decision so fundamental to the integrity of our league,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie in a statement.
“The league’s rules prohibiting CFL-related gambling in 2021 were made abundantly clear to all players at the time, yet Mr. Lemon knowingly ignored those rules. The prohibition of wagering on the CFL by CFL personnel, including players, is critical to the reputation and standing of the league.
The CFL will vigorously defend its position at the arbitration hearing.
No further comment will be provided until a decision has been reached.”
Last month, the Alouettes released a statement supporting the league after they announced Lemon’s suspension.
“The Alouettes were recently made aware of the CFL’s investigation regarding an issue involving Shawn Lemon that took place in 2021. Additional information was made available to the club upon the completion of the league’s investigation in recent days. The team fully supports the CFL’s rules on gambling. As a result of this investigation and the league’s ruling, we have suspended Shawn Lemon indefinitely. We will have no further comment.”
According to Justin Dunk of 3DownNation, the CFL sent an internal memo back in 2022 to all nine franchises reiterating its existing gambling policies for players.
Shawn Lemon is six foot one and weighs 242 pounds. The 35-year-old from Waldorf, Maryland, made 26 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, one touchdown, and one forced fumble in 13 games for the Alouettes in 2023 helping them win the 110th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24.
In 2022, Lemon made 29 tackles, 14 sacks, and five forced fumbles for the Calgary Stampeders. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star in 2022. Lemon played two seasons in Calgary with 55 tackles, 22 sacks, and seven forced fumbles in 28 games.
Lemon began his CFL career on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice squad in 2011. Later, he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played one game in 2011.
Afterward, Lemon had stints with the Orlando Predators (AFL) and Sioux Falls Storm (IFL) in 2012 before returning to the CFL in 2012 with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played 12 games with 15 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble.
In 2013, Lemon signed with the Calgary Stampeders. He played two seasons in Calgary with 44 tackles, 16 sacks, one interception, and eight forced fumbles in 24 games. He is a member of the 2014 Grey Cup championship team.
After Calgary, Lemon left and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and later the San Francisco 49ers but returned to the CFL in 2015 signing with the Ottawa Redblacks. He made 13 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in nine games. He was named a CFL East All-Star after the 2015 season.
In 2016, Lemon returned to Saskatchewan for his second stint. He played one game with one forced fumble before he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts. In Toronto, he made 22 tackles, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 16 games. After the season, he signed a contract extension.
During the 2017 season, Lemon made 18 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 12 games helping the Argonauts win the 105th Grey Cup. It was Lemon’s second Grey Cup championship.
Lemon began the 2018 season in Toronto playing five games with five tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble before he was traded to the B.C. Lions. He played 13 games with 17 tackles and ten sacks for the Lions. In 2019, he returned to Toronto as a free agent with 15 tackles and one sack in four games before he was again traded to the B.C. Lions. Lemon made 19 tackles, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles in ten games for the Lions.
Collegiately, Lemon played four seasons at the University of Akron (2007-10) with 102 tackles (53 solo, 49 assists), 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one pass breakup, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 41 games for the Zips. In his final season, Lemon made 39 tackles, seven sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 12 games.
