The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and defensive end Willie Jefferson agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season on Sunday. Jefferson was scheduled to be a free agent next month.
Willie Jefferson is six foot seven and weighs 245 pounds. The 33-year-old from Beaumont, Texas, re-signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on December 5, 2023. In 2024, Jefferson made 25 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 games helping the Blue Bombers reach their fifth consecutive Grey Cup appearance. Jefferson was named to the All-CFL Team and a CFL West All-Star.
The Houston Texans signed Jefferson as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2013. In 2012, he played six games making two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist). The Texans released him on October 21, 2013. The Buffalo Bills signed Jefferson on January 17, 2014. Buffalo released him on March 3, 2014.
The Edmonton Eskimos signed Jefferson on April 3, 2014. Jefferson played two seasons making 40 tackles, ten sacks, and three forced fumbles in 35 games. In 2015, Jefferson made 24 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles in 18 games helping the Eskimos win the 2015 Grey Cup over the Ottawa Redblacks.
The Eskimos released shortly after the Grey Cup, and he signed with the Washington Redskins on January 14, 2016. In 2016, Jefferson made two tackles (2 solos) in three preseason games. The Redskins released him on August 27, 2016. Next, Jefferson signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on September 28, 2016. He played three seasons in Saskatchewan (2016-18) making 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 2017 and 2018.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Jefferson on February 12, 2019. In 2023, Jefferson made 21 tackles, 11 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles in 17 games. He was named a CFL All-Star and a CFL West All-Star.
In five seasons with Winnipeg, Jefferson has made 121 tackles, 1 tackle for special teams, 43 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 15 forced fumbles in 85 games. Jefferson is a two-time Grey Cup champion (2019, 2021), named CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019, a four-time All-CFL Team (2019, 2021, 2023-24), and a five-time CFL West All-Star (2019-24).
Collegiately, Jefferson played two seasons at Baylor (2009-10) as a wide receiver making six catches for 144 yards, two touchdowns, and one tackle in 15 games for the Bears.
Then, Jefferson transferred to Stephen F. Austin (2011-12) switching to defensive end making 65 tackles (43 solos, 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 solos, 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 made 36 tackles (24 solos, 12 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 11 games, of which ten were starts.
