Blue Bombers re-sign all-star defensive end Willie Jefferson
WINNIPEG, MB., January 12 , 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension with veteran all-star defensive end, Willie Jefferson, who was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
Jefferson (6-7, 248; Stephen F. Austin State; born: January 31, 1991, in Beaumont, TX.) returns in 2025 for his 11th season in the Canadian Football League and sixth with the Blue Bombers including his days with Edmonton (2014-15) and Saskatchewan (2016-18).
Jefferson was named to the All-CFL team for a sixth time in 2024 after leading the club in quarterback sacks with six - the fourth time in five seasons he has led the team - while adding 25 defensive tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and adding 10 pass knockdowns. He then followed that up in the Grey Cup loss to Toronto with six tackles, two sacks, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and interception in one of the best games of his career.
Jefferson now has 43 career sacks as a Blue Bomber, ranking him tied for sixth all-time in franchise history with Michael Gray. His 74 total career sacks currently ranks 29th in CFL history. Jefferson is also the only player in CFL history with at least 50 sacks and 50 pass knockdowns, with his 78 knockdowns ranking fourth all time.
A respected and vocal leader in the locker room, Jefferson has played in 155 CFL games, including 80 with the Blue Bombers, and has three Grey Cup rings (Edmonton, 2015; Winnipeg 2019, 2021).
A Winnipeg resident, he is also one of the team's most visible players in the community and has been the recipient of both the Ed Kotowich 'Good Guy Award' (2022) and the Cal Murphy 'Heart of a Legend' Award (2023).
We knew he'd be back. Welcome once again. Looking forward to you making plays no other player can make but you.
He is the man!
A great leader is back for another dominant season
Guess Pinball fell short last time, and Willie didn't think he'd be able to do better this time.
Great signing and a signal to the rest of the guys
Some suggested he wasn't as good last year
Some said he needed Jeffcoat
Those in the know can likely mostly agree, one of the best ever of his generation
Key signing and I'm happy to see it, we knew he would be back!
If he can hoist another cup, this will all end very well
Hope he can retire here, generational talent imo with special rare physical gifts and a real treat from entertainment perspective
COME DOWN TO WPG, ONE MORE TIME
Quote from: Blueforlife on January 12, 2025, 09:33:14 PMSome suggested he wasn't as good last year
Some said he needed Jeffcoat
Those in the know can likely mostly agree, one of the best ever of his generation
Key signing and I'm happy to see it, we knew he would be back!
If he can hoist another cup, this will all end very well
Hope he can retire here, generational talent imo with special rare physical gifts and a real treat from entertainment perspective
COME DOWN TO WPG, ONE MORE TIME
Your 1st two lines are both wrong and viewed with blue tinted glasses.
1. His sack total was the lowest since 2016 when he only played 5 games. It matched his career low for 18 games in 2015. His forced fumble of 1 was his lowest since 2017 when he had none.
2. Jeffcoat was a force equal to Jefferson which we did not replace in 2024.
So yes he did need Jeffcoat or equal to take away an offence from being able to key on him. 3 man fronts didn't help either. Our DT's were not very good.
It's not his fault that scouting didn't find better DL that would shift focus away from him.
Great player, generational player but even he needs help from the front 7.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 13, 2025, 12:16:25 AMYour 1st two lines are both wrong and viewed with blue tinted glasses.
1. His sack total was the lowest since 2016 when he only played 5 games. It matched his career low for 18 games in 2015. His forced fumble of 1 was his lowest since 2017 when he had none.
2. Jeffcoat was a force equal to Jefferson which we did not replace in 2024.
So yes he did need Jeffcoat or equal to take away an offence from being able to key on him. 3 man fronts didn't help either. Our DT's were not very good.
It's not his fault that scouting didn't find better DL that would shift focus away from him.
Great player, generational player but even he needs help from the front 7.
Totally agree on all points.
We need to spend some $$ and get some help for Willie and get some pressure on the Qb's. We are no where near the level we had when Jeffcoat was in the lineup, and Willie has suffered as a result of our poor recruitment efforts on the DL.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 13, 2025, 12:16:25 AMYour 1st two lines are both wrong and viewed with blue tinted glasses.
1. His sack total was the lowest since 2016 when he only played 5 games. It matched his career low for 18 games in 2015. His forced fumble of 1 was his lowest since 2017 when he had none.
2. Jeffcoat was a force equal to Jefferson which we did not replace in 2024.
So yes he did need Jeffcoat or equal to take away an offence from being able to key on him. 3 man fronts didn't help either. Our DT's were not very good.
It's not his fault that scouting didn't find better DL that would shift focus away from him.
Great player, generational player but even he needs help from the front 7.
The 1st two points are simply what people posted this year, they are not wrong (simply re hashing what they said) and nothing to do with blue tinted glasses.
Agree Jeffcoat was good but Jefferson had a decent year imo and good playoffs without him
Full disclosure I really liked Jeffcoat but happy we moved on. They were a deadly combo but things change and you move on.
I found our DL was decent last year and we developed some new faces and dealt with injuries well. Finding a new faces or two on the DL would be great.
Yes every player needs a supporting cast but I was pleasantly surprised in how our new faces developed and rotated to contribute at a reasonable level.
I expect some returning faces will greatly benefit from the reps last year and it will help the team a great deal. Continuity is key. I like the development idea on our DL, signing a stud is nice but I would spend elsewhere considering our priorities of high priced talent to retain on offence. See what training camp brings, I bet our scouts will bring in some new faces that will provide depth and perhaps a someone that is near game ready at a good price.
Please remind us of Jefferson's stat line for the Grey Cup, please remind us of his number of knock downs last season. I would also think his QB pressures were decent last year. As he ages, yes his stats will decline. Crosby doesn't put up the big numbers anymore but is still very good and will captain team Canada.
3 man fronts are trend in the CFL, it produced a rock solid D and could have won us another cup but the team laid on egg in all three phases.
You point #2 is wrong, Jeffcoat was good, he wasn't as force equal to Jefferson and was injury prone. Jefferson is a generational talent, Jeffcoat will go down a decent Bomber who would likely have been great if he could stay on the field. Jeffcoat showed brilliance at times, Jefferson has made a career of playing that way.
Jefferson will have another decent year will rotate, have a few big games and develop the next gen. He will again crank it up in the post season.
Yes we need to take some pressure of Jefferson by having another guy get double teamed or focused on. I bet we find a solution.
We need to improve on run D. Our weakness which I'm sure is a priority to shore up. Game is won in the trenches.
Never any doubt. Hopefully this sparks a lot more re-signings, retentions, and a "stay for '25" discounts.
He tried to win that GC in Nov by himself but even his herculean effort wasn't enough to bail out the bad play by so many others (coaches included). If only he had had that game in HAM 1 year earlier instead... then we'd at least have 1 win in 2 years.
Let's keep in mind that Willie had that career game against probably the best OL in the league! Incredible.
Still getting me some of that smoke! Thanks Willie, and welcome back. The team will get it done this year and be remembered for eternity.
$200K fair contract for Bombers and Jefferson.
Quote from: Ridermania on January 13, 2025, 11:57:55 AM$200K fair contract for Bombers and Jefferson.
Little pricey for a guy who's best days might be behind him
Love it. Never in doubt.
Quote from: bluengold204 on January 13, 2025, 12:11:54 PMLittle pricey for a guy who's best days might be behind him
Fair value, he will earn every penny
Quote from: bluengold204 on January 13, 2025, 12:11:54 PMLittle pricey for a guy who's best days might be behind him
The GC last year says different.
Yes, he had an off year, trying to do it all himself. But when the other side is obviously weaker, how often are they going to chance throwing at you, or running plays your way.
If we can put a player on his other side that is comparable in talent this year, they have to stop avoiding him, and he will get his share of sacks, knockdowns and tackles. At $200k, there is budget for the other end left.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 13, 2025, 03:41:23 PMThe GC last year says different.
Yes, he had an off year, trying to do it all himself. But when the other side is obviously weaker, how often are they going to chance throwing at you, or running plays your way.
If we can put a player on his other side that is comparable in talent this year, they have to stop avoiding him, and he will get his share of sacks, knockdowns and tackles. At $200k, there is budget for the other end left.
Maybe, maybe not, depends how much they overspend on the offence again, Brady, Zach, Stanley and Demski numbers are all set, but they need to pay Schoen, Lawler and probably have money left over to bump a few O-linemen in order to retain them.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 13, 2025, 03:41:23 PMThe GC last year says different.
Yes, he had an off year, trying to do it all himself. But when the other side is obviously weaker, how often are they going to chance throwing at you, or running plays your way.
If we can put a player on his other side that is comparable in talent this year, they have to stop avoiding him, and he will get his share of sacks, knockdowns and tackles. At $200k, there is budget for the other end left.
That was the point. He's still effective but had an off year due to the other changes on the DL and how the DC changes strategies.
$200K seems fair but I was hoping we could trim that a bit to spend on an interior DT in free agency.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 13, 2025, 04:13:22 PMMaybe, maybe not, depends how much they overspend on the offence again, Brady, Zach, Stanley and Demski numbers are all set, but they need to pay Schoen, Lawler and probably have money left over to bump a few O-linemen in order to retain them.
I can't see us spending more this year on O than last. And we're going to have extra $SMS because its all in for the Cup. We will spend to the limit and beyond.
I don't think we will have to spend that much for the bookend. We have a number of players that could step up, and a new scouting staff that will have some prospects.
Quote from: theaardvark on January 13, 2025, 04:52:13 PMI can't see us spending more this year on O than last. And we're going to have extra $SMS because its all in for the Cup. We will spend to the limit and beyond.
I don't think we will have to spend that much for the bookend. We have a number of players that could step up, and a new scouting staff that will have some prospects.
My point is the big salaries on offence are still in place, unless they trim Schoen or Lawler the overspend remains out of balance towards the O side. Willie is probably the only bigger salary left on the defensive side of the ball. Bighill's best paydays are in his past.
O'Shea comments on Willie re-signing.
https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/o-shea-happy-to-bring-back-top-priority-bombers-defensive-end-willie-jefferson~3061780
CFL winter meeting now on in S. Carolina, all coach interviews available on TSN Jan 13, all GM interviews on Jan 14.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 13, 2025, 05:20:27 PMMy point is the big salaries on offence are still in place, unless they trim Schoen or Lawler the overspend remains out of balance towards the O side. Willie is probably the only bigger salary left on the defensive side of the ball. Bighill's best paydays are in his past.
With the Mitchell signing, sure feels like one of Schoen or Lawler are on the way out.
Quote from: Jesse on January 14, 2025, 01:35:51 AMWith the Mitchell signing, sure feels like one of Schoen or Lawler are on the way out.
I m thinking Walters is hedging that Shoen's rehab is going to take longer than expected so he's taking action to replace quality with quality
Quote from: dd on January 14, 2025, 02:00:18 AMI m thinking Walters is hedging that Shoen's rehab is going to take longer than expected so he's taking action to replace quality with quality
That's another decent point.
Can't imagine the BB without him. He's the top priority to sign every year.