The Ottawa Redblacks and punter Richie Leone agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season on Tuesday.
Richie Leone is six foot four and weighs 216 pounds. The 32-year-old from Roswell, Georgia, re-signed with the Redblacks on December 11, 2023. In 2024, he punted the ball 99 times for 4,754 yards (48.0 AVG) with a long of 83 yards in 18 games.
The Baltimore Ravens signed Leone as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2014. He also spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. The B.C. Lions signed Leone on November 17, 2014. He played two seasons in B.C. (2015-16) punting the ball 216 times for 10,671 yards (49.4 AVG) with a long of 83 yards in 35 games. He was named a two-time CFL West All-Star (2015-16), and a two-time CFL All-Star (2015-16).
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Leone as a free agent on January 26, 2021. In 2021, he punted the ball 106 times for 4,912 yards (46.3 AVG) with a long of 67 yards in 14 games. A year later, he punted the ball 112 times for 5,199 yards (46.4 AVG) with a long of 86 yards in 18 games.
In 2023, Leone punted the ball 117 times for 5,567 yards (47.6 AVG) with a long of 74 yards in 18 games. He was named a CFL All-Star and CFL East All-Star. In six seasons with the Redblacks, Leone has punted the ball 787 times for 32,570 yards (41.4 AVG) in 104 games for the Redblacks. In Ottawa, Leone was named a four-time CFL East All-Star (2018-19, 2021, 2023), and a three-time CFL All-Star (2019, 2021, 2023).
Collegiately, Leone played four seasons at the University of Houston (2010-13) with 219 punts for 9,430 yards (43.1 AVG), 18 touchbacks, 87 fair catches, 79 from inside the 20-yard line, 54 for 50-plus yards, and one punt block. He was named to the FWAA Second Team All-American in 2013.
