Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign former NFL, Riders’ punter Jon Ryan

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed former NFL and Saskatchewan Roughriders’ punter Jon Ryan.

The 40-year-old played 28 games over two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and registered 169 punts for 8,192 yards (48.1 average). He was named a West Division all-star as a member of the team in 2019.

The Regina native played 191 games over 12 seasons in the NFL, including 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (2008-17) and two with the Green Bay Packers (2006-07). He won Super Bowl XLVIII as a member of the Seahawks when they defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 in February 2014.

He originally started his CFL career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-05) and was named a CFL all-star in his second season.

The Ticats also signed American kicker Seth Small.

The 22-year-old was in training camp with the Ticats this year and appeared in both preseason games, converting all three of his field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder.

The five-foot-eleven, 205-pound native of Katy, Texas also attended mini-camp with the Indianapolis Colts this year.

He played 46 games over four seasons at Texas A&M University (2018-21), converting 71-of-91 field goal attempts (78 percent) including a career long 52-yard field goal and a 28-yard game-winning field goal against No. 1 Alabama (2021). He holds the Aggies’ all-time record with 71 career field goals made and 377 points scored.

The Ticats also released American offensive lineman Aron Johnson, American punter Simon Laryea, and Canadian linebacker Jared Beeksma.