The Saskatchewan Roughriders and wide receiver/kick returner Mario Alford agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season on Wednesday.
Mario Alford is five foot nine and weighs 182 pounds. The 33-year-old from Greenville, Georgia, re-signed with the Roughriders on January 4, 2024. In 2024, Alford made one catch for six yards, 45 kick returns for 1,077 yards, one touchdown, and 79 punt returns for 801 yards in 18 games.
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the seventh round (238th pick) in the 2015 NFL Draft. In 2015, he made one catch for 15 yards, eight kick returns for 190 yards, and eight punt returns for 68 yards in one game. The Bengals released him on September 3, 2016. He also spent time with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Cleveland Browns. Alford played three games for the Browns in 2016 with eight punt returns for 68 yards and eight kick returns for 258 yards.
Then, Alford signed with the Toronto Argonauts on June 3, 2018. In 2018, Alford made seven catches for 57 yards, one carry for ten yards, five punt returns for seven yards, and eight kick returns for 170 yards in six games.
The Montreal Alouettes signed Alford on September 24, 2019, for a 2023 sixth-round draft pick. In 2019, he made one catch for 14 yards, 26 punt returns for 486 yards, three touchdowns, and 24 kick returns for 477 yards in nine games.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired Alford from the Montreal Alouettes on July 3, 2022. In 2022, Alford had 44 punt returns for 530 yards, one touchdown, and 38 kick returns for 990 yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games. He was named the John Agro Special Teams Award.
In 2023, he had 51 kick returns for 1,181 yards, 89 punt returns for 980 yards, and three touchdowns in 18 games. He was named a CFL West All-Star.
Collegiately, Alford played two seasons at Georgia Military College (2011-12) making 87 carries for 767 yards, ten touchdowns, and ten catches for 122 yards, and one touchdown in 17 games for the Bulldogs.
Then, Alford transferred to West Virginia (2013-14) making 92 catches for 1,497 yards, 13 touchdowns, 37 kick returns for 972 yards, two touchdowns, and three punt returns for -13 yards in 25 games for the Mountaineers.