The Ottawa Redblacks signed defensive back Robert Priester to a one-year contract through the 2025 season on Monday. The deal will become official when free agency opens on Tuesday.
Robert Priester is five foot nine and weighs 180 pounds. The 31-year-old from Tampa, Florida, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on July 1, 2024. In 2024, he made 28 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble in 11 games. In the 111th Grey Cup, Priester intercepted Zach Collaros for a pick-six 61-yard touchdown helping Toronto beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24 for their second Grey Cup title in three seasons.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Priester on May 22, 2018. He made seven tackles and one pass breakup in two games. After the season, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2019 and spent the season on the practice squad.
In 2020, Priester played for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) making eight tackles (7 solo, 2 assist), one sack, and one interception in five games before the league suspended operations due to the pandemic. In 2021, he returned to the Edmonton Elks and later returned to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2022 but was released at the end of training camp.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Priester as a free agent on May 21, 2022. In 2022, Priester made 28 tackles, five tackles on special teams, and two forced fumbles in 12 games. In 2023, Priester made three tackles in five games. Priester’s contract was not renewed and he became a free agent on February 13, 2024.
Collegiately, Priester played three seasons at Wyoming (2015-17) making 102 tackles (73 solos, 29 assists), six tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 35 games for the Cowboys.
