Jovan Santos-Knox agrees to terms with Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Photo: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with American linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox. He was recently released by the Ottawa Redblacks.

The six-foot-one, 233-pound defender played 42 regular-season games over three seasons in Ottawa, recording 209 total tackles, five quarterback sacks, and two interceptions. He was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2025.

The 31-year-old started his CFL career with the Blue Bombers in 2017 and spent two years with the team, recording 136 defensive tackles, 20 special teams tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions over 34 regular-season games.

The native of Waterbury, Conn. signed with the Edmonton Elks as a free agent in 2019 but played only four regular-season games due to a foot injury. He opted out of his CFL contract amid the COVID-19 pandemic and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021, earning an All-East Division selection with the team in 2022.

In total, Santos-Knox has played 111 career regular-season CFL games and made 549 total tackles, 16 quarterback sacks, five interceptions, and four forced fumbles.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Zach Collaros threw for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 regular-season games, going 6-7 as a starter.

The Blue Bombers ranked fifth in net offence, third in net defence, and eighth with a turnover differential of minus-eleven. The club’s leading rusher was Brady Oliveira with 1,163 yards, leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and leading tackler was Tony Jones with 104 tackles. Winnipeg ranked first in attendance with average crowds of 32,343, which was a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year.