Veteran DT Almondo Sewell returns to Edmonton Elks as training camp guest coach

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks have brought back long-time defensive tackle Almondo Sewell as a guest coach for training camp, the team revealed on Thursday.

Sewell spent the first nine seasons of his professional career with the Green and Gold, including helping the team to a Grey Cup victory in 2015. He was named a West Division all-star seven times during his tenure with the club and earned league honours on six occasions.

The former Akron University Zip left the club ahead of the 2021 season and has spent the past three years as a member of the Montreal Alouettes, culminating in a second Grey Cup ring last November. In 185 career CFL games, he has notched 334 defensive tackles and 69 quarterback sacks. He has been named a league all-star on six different occasions.

Despite having a year remaining on his contract, the 37-year-old was released by the Alouettes in February and has yet to sign with another team. Though he has not yet officially announced his retirement, it would appear that he is getting a jump start on his post-playing career in the same city where he first adopted the Canadian game.

Sewell continued to make the Alberta capital his offseason home while playing in Montreal and has previously expressed interest in joining the Edmonton Police Service after retirement. Those aspirations will be put on hold for at least the next four weeks while he tries his hand at coaching.

The Elks will open their 2024 regular season by hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, June 8.

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