The Montreal Alouettes re-signed quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season on Monday.
The Montreal Alouettes acquired quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson from the Edmonton Elks on Tuesday for quarterback Cody Fajardo.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson is six foot four and weighs 220 pounds. The 36-year-old from San Francisco, California, signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 5, 2024. In 2024, he completed 318 of 468 passes (68%) for 3,748 yards, 24 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and 11 carries for 83 yards in 16 games. Bethel-Thompson was acquired in a trade on December 17, 2024, for quarterback Cody Fajardo.
Thompson was a journeyman quarterback having stints with the 49ers, Dolphins, Vikings, Patriots, and Eagles. Furthermore, he played for the San Jose SaberCats (AFL), Sacramento Mountain Lions (UFL) in 2011, and the Aviators (TSL) in 2020. In 2016, Thompson signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was placed on their practice squad but was released.
Thompson signed with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. He played five seasons in the CFL all with Toronto. He completed 1,125 of 1,683 passes (66.8%) for 13,261 yards, 70 touchdowns, 49 interceptions, 93 carries for 513 yards, and two touchdowns in 74 games.
He won his first Grey Cup title as a backup in 2017 when Toronto beat Calgary 27-24 in the 105th Grey Cup. It was the final game for CFL Hall of Famer Ricky Ray.
In 2022, Thompson was the CFL passing leader, completing 387 of 579 passes (66.8%) for 4,731 yards, 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and 35 carries for 166 yards in 18 games in Toronto in 2022. He led Toronto to its 18th Grey Cup championship in history with a thrilling 24-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Thompson is a two-time CFL East All-Star (2021-22) and was the CFL passing touchdowns leader (26) in 2019.
In 2023, Thompson signed with the New Orleans Breakers (USFL) on February 22, 2023. He led the USFL completing 220 of 336 passes (65.5%) for 2,433 yards, 14 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and 17 carries for 45 yards helping the Breakers reach the South Division Championship game against the Birmingham Stallions. He was released by the Breakers on July 11, 2023.
Collegiately, Thompson began at UCLA in 2007. He completed 23 of 55 passes (41.8%) for 293 yards, one touchdown, five interceptions, and 15 carries for -32 yards in five games for the Bruins. Then, he transferred to Sacramento State (2008-10) completing 113 of 197 passes (57.4%) for 1,322 yards, seven touchdowns, eight interceptions, 47 carries for 29 yards, and two touchdowns in 12 games for the Hornets.
