The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released American kick returner Isaiah Wooden and Global punter Nik Constantinou to pursue NFL opportunities.
“We want to thank Nik and Isaiah for their professionalism and the contributions they made to our organization,” said president of football operations Orlondo Steinauer. “Nik provided consistency and reliability in our kicking game, while Isaiah brought energy and explosiveness to our return units. Both players have earned this opportunity, and we fully support them in taking on this new challenge in their careers. We wish them all the best.”
Wooden played 14 regular-season games with the team in 2025, leading the CFL in punt return average (15.0) and finishing second in kickoff return average (26.3). He recorded 1,782 total return yards and three return touchdowns despite suffering an arm injury midway through the season.
The five-foot-nine, 170-pound speedster first signed with the B.C. Lions in 2024 and spent time on the team’s practice roster, though he was later released and signed in Hamilton. He reportedly ran a 4.38-second forty-yard dash at his pro day in 2024.
It remains unclear which NFL team is signing Wooden, though he worked out of the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons.
Constantinou was the fifth-overall pick in the 2024 CFL Global Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. As a CFL rookie that same year, he punted 102 times for a gross average of 47.1 yards and a net average of 36.8 yards. In 2025, the 26-year-old punted 90 times for a gross average of 48.3 yards and a net average of 38.0 yards.
3DownNation has reported that Constantinou is going to sign with the Cleveland Browns.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats finished first in the East Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record, though the team lost the East Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Bo Levi Mitchell led the CFL with 5,296 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions after starting all 18 regular-season games, earning the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Player.
The Tiger-Cats ranked third in net offence, eighth in net defence, and first with a turnover differential of plus-ten. The club’s leading rusher was Greg Bell with 1,038 yards, leading receiver was Kenny Lawler with 1,443 yards, and leading tackler was Stavros Katsantonis with 69 tackles. Hamilton ranked fourth in attendance with average crowds of 22,858, which was a 3.9 percent increase from the previous year.
