Jefferson not going anywhere soon Legacy ‘huge’ to Blue Bombers’ dominating defensive end By: Taylor Allen Posted: 5:26 PM CST Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

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This article was published 05/12/2023 (996 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quick and painless.

That’s how you can sum up Willie Jefferson’s contract negotiation with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The star defensive end had no desire to leave, and the Bombers were eager to have Jefferson return to the Blue and Gold for a fifth season. The two sides agreed to a one-year contract extension on Monday.

“I’m just happy we were able to get the deal done. No dilly-dally, no hesitations,” said Jefferson, who was all smiles as he addressed reporters at IG Field on Tuesday.

“I knew what I wanted, and the team was ready to give me everything I wanted plus a little bit more. I’m happy. I’m satisfied. All of the above.”

Jefferson, who turns 33 next month and represents himself in contract talks, is the first pending free agent to come to terms on a new deal with the club.

The 6-7, 242-pound product of Beaumont, Texas was the Bombers’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player for a third time after posting a team-leading 11 quarterback sacks last season. He was also tied for second in the CFL with three forced fumbles and led the league with 13 pass knockdowns.

Jefferson resides in Winnipeg year-round with his wife, Holly, and their two daughters.

“I still feel like I’m dominant. I’m a problem. It’s going to take more than one guy to stop me from getting to get to the quarterback,” said Jefferson, who started his CFL career in 2014 with Edmonton.

“I knew what I wanted, and the team was ready to give me everything I wanted plus a little bit more. I’m happy. I’m satisfied. All of the above.”–Willie Jefferson

“Even if you bring two or three guys to me, don’t throw the ball my way because I’ll knock the ball down. Until you can stop me, or until I’m tired of playing football, I’m here, I’m in Winnipeg. I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.”

The Bombers have at least 34 players that remain unsigned. Outside of Jefferson, quarterback Zach Collaros, receivers Nic Demski and Kenny Lawler, linebackers Adam Bighill and Kyrie Wilson, guards Tui Eli and Liam Dobson, and defensive back Jamal Parker, mostly everyone else’s future remains uncertain.

Not only that, a large portion of last year’s starters are over the age of 30.

Changes could be coming, and Jefferson knows that, but he’s not stressed.

“It’s cliché, but that’s higher than my pay grade. That’s not something that I need to worry about,” said Jefferson.

“I trust in Darren (Cameron), I trust in Kyle (Walters), I trust in Wade (Miller), I trust in coach (Mike) O’Shea, I trust in our scouts that they’re going to bring in the best guys that they think we can win with in 2024 and hopefully, the guys that are free agents, like myself, choose to make the right decision for themselves.”

Jefferson also seems to have come to grips with the fact that the Bombers have now lost two straight Grey Cups. It’s been less than a month since the Montreal Alouettes scored in the final seconds to beat the Bombers 28-24 in Hamilton for the 110th Grey Cup and spoil Winnipeg’s aspirations of earning dynasty status.

“I’m not mad. I’m not sad. I’m not disappointed or anything like that. Like I was telling my friends and my family — a lot of guys don’t even make it to a Grey Cup. A lot of guys have amazing careers and never make it to a Grey Cup, never win a Grey Cup,” Jefferson said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to win two back-to-back with a great organization, with some great guys and build some relationships. Going to four Grey Cups and losing the last two, it is what it is. It’s football. You win some, you lose some.”

Jefferson — who is the first player in CFL history with at least 50 career sacks and 50 pass knockdowns — admitted not just his own, but this core’s legacy is a big reason why he had no interest in testing free agency in February.

“When you come to Winnipeg, you already know the vibe. There’s going to be crazy fans in the stands. As soon as you get off the plane, the thing that’s gonna ring in your ears is ‘Come on down to Winnipeg,’” he said.

“You gotta play against our defence, you gotta play against a great offence, you gotta play against an amazing special teams. We got great coaches and it’s hard to win here as an opposing team. I don’t want to leave that and be a part of something else when I was a part of building that, you feel me? So, legacy is huge to me.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31