The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American linebacker Vi Jones.
The six-foot-two, 225-pound Jones signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and appeared in three games as a rookie. He subsequently spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2023-2024), recording two forced fumbles and nine defensive tackles in seven games in 2024. The Austin, Texas native joined the Cardinals for 2025 training camp, registering 10 tackles in three pre-season games, but was cut among Arizona’s final roster moves.
Jones earned over $1 million USD while playing in the NFL.
Collegiately, Jones played for the University of Southern California (2017-2018) then transferred to North Carolina State in 2019. As a senior in 2021, he had 45 tackles, including eight for loss, 12 quarterback hurries, six sacks, and one blocked kick in 12 games.
In 2020, Jones blocked three kicks, tying him for the NCAA FBS lead, and started four games at weak-side linebacker. He was a co-recipient of the Wolfpack’s Special Teams Player of the Year award for 2020 and made 28 total tackles in 21 games over two seasons.
Saskatchewan finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The team’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.
