Official: Toronto Argonauts bring back two-time Grey Cup champ Robert Priester

Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Toronto Argonauts have officially signed American defensive back Robert Priester. 3DownNation reported the agreement during the negotiation window.

Priester spent the 2025 season with the Ottawa Redblacks, appearing in 15 games. He made 27 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.

The 32-year-old returns to Toronto, where he spent three productive seasons. Priester appeared in 26 games, recording 59 defensive tackles, four special-teams tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles, helping the team win Grey Cup titles in 2022 and 2024.

The native of Tampa, Fla. started his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2018, making seven tackles in two games. Despite two stops in Edmonton and a brief return to Winnipeg, he did not play another CFL game until signing with Toronto in 2022.

Pending CFL free agents were able to communicate with teams around the league from February 1 to 8, during which time contracts could be negotiated and agreed upon but not signed. Starting Tuesday, February 10, at noon EST, players can officially change teams.

The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.

The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.