It’s a sentiment born out of great expectations and the frustrations of the last few seasons, what with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers winning two Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021, then dropping three consecutive championship games and exiting in the first round of the playoffs last year after a 10-8 season.

And so when the announcement came Thursday that defensive end Willie Jefferson had scratched his signature on a one-year contract extension with the club there were the usual hallelujahs all over social media — he is one of the most popular players in franchise history, after all — but more than a few who weighed in with a narrative that has been prevalent over the last few years in these parts.

Namely, how can this squad get back to where it once was if it keeps running it back with so many of the same faces?

“You can never count us out,” Jefferson said. “Two years ago we started off slow but then crept into the playoffs, made a run and ended up in the Grey Cup. Last year, new OC (offensive coordinator) … we made our way through the season and with the ups and downs still made it to the playoffs.

“The season didn’t end the way we wanted, but we’ve got the guys. If you turn on the tape and watch a Winnipeg football game, it’s exciting from start to finish. You can never turn off the TV and count us out.”

Jefferson, who negotiated his own contract extension, spoke several times of the importance of re-signing veteran players in the secondary like Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm and Redha Kramdi and how they work so effectively in defensive coordinator Jordan Younger’s defence.

He also reiterated his faith in Zach Collaros, Brady Oliveira and Nic Demski, also pointing to Pokey Wilson signing an extension, Trey Vaval being back after getting a look from six NFL teams and Sergio Castillo “making field goals from the other side of the 50.”

“It’s hard to not want to be a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan or think we can’t make it happen,” he said. “We have the tools. We’re picking up some new tools which are supposed to be an enhancement from years prior… that’s what you do. You try and see what you were lacking the year before, try to do something a little bit different, try to do something a little bit better and then, hopefully, sprinkle a little bit of Winnipeg luck in there and we can make it back to the cup — especially with it being back in Calgary and we were able to get over that hump in 2019 in Calgary.

“Why not?

“… Already this offseason they’re making moves to again put ourselves in position to compete for a Grey Cup. Last year was a tough year. But, again, if you turn on the tape a lot of those games were close games. One play going a different way we’d end up in the win column; same way in the Eastern Semi-Final — a couple plays go a different way and then we’re on to Hamilton (for the Eastern Final) and then possibly onto the Grey Cup.

“We have the guys to make it happen,” he added. “You can see that in the roster. I believe in Zach. I believe in Coach O’Shea. I believe in Kyle (Walters, GM). I believe in Demski, Brady and especially the defence. We’ve got JY coming back and this is going to be (third) year as defensive coordinator and we’ve got some stuff clicking.”

If you’re interested the audio from Jefferson’s entire media conference can be listened to here:

More from Jefferson and other notes in this week’s edition of 1st & 10….

THE SACK TOTALS… Jefferson tied his personal best with 16 pass knockdowns in 2025, but his quarterback sack totals dipped to three. He’s made no secret of his pursuit of 100-100 — 100 career sacks and 100 pass knockdowns, which would be a CFL first — but while his knockdown total is a solid 94, his sack total is 77.

And he’ll turn 35 at the end of this month.

Age, he’ll insist, is just a number.

“Turn on the tape. I’m back there,” he insisted. “I’m in the quarterback’s face, I’m making him move around the pocket, making him get off his spot, rushing throws, knocking down throws. Like I said, if you turn on the tape and you watch the tape you’ll see I’m back there. There were a lot of misses this year — a LOT — and that’s something I’m working on this offseason getting ready to go into the 2026 season. I plan on finishing with a lot more tackles in the backfield, a lot more plays in the backfield.

“… You turn on the tape and you can see I still played a big role when I was on the field.”

COACH THOMAS… Here’s Jefferson on now playing for Jake Thomas as his position coach, what with the veteran defensive tackle having retired from playing last week to become the team’s new defensive line boss:

“That’s going to be exciting. I’m truly excited to see how Jake switches it up from being a player to being a coach. We’ve had plenty of late-night conversations, plane-ride conversations, about what the next step was going to be. It being coaching, something we both like doing, that is sweet — especially for him being the longest-tenured defensive lineman on the team and then being able to step in as the defensive line coach at a really good time for the team.

“It’s a blessing. I was very happy for Jake and I’m even more thrilled to be one of his guys that he gets to do his first year of coaching with. I’m going to do my best to make him look good in his position but also show how good of a coach he can actually be.”

HIS LEGACY… Jefferson also talked about his personal goals and chasing a spot among the Blue Bombers legends.

“I’m working to be one of those names up there with those great guys in the Ring of Honour,” he said. “I want to be next to the Doug Browns, the Milt Stegalls and all those guys. I want to be up there. This is how I solidify my place up there, by climbing that (quarterback sack) leader board. I’m trying my best to get to the top.”

FYI, Jefferson has 46 quarterback sacks as a Blue Bomber, which ranks fifth all-time in franchise history behind Tyrone Jones (98), Tony Norman (59), Doug Brown (52) and Elfrid Payton and Gavin Walls (both with 47).

HUGE NEWS… from CFL headquarters Friday afternoon with defined revenue gains up some $10 million league wide. That has led to a bump in the salary cap for 2026 to $6,280,514, up from $6.06 last year.

More details on that announcement can be found here:

2025 season yields $10M in league-wide revenue growth

NEW BLUE BLOOD: More details on the five players officially added by the Blue Bombers on Friday:

-Receiver Key’Shawn Smith: attended rookie minicamp with the Las Vegas Raiders last year and also had a look from the Kansas City Chiefs, appearing in three preseason games. Smith split his college career between Southern Methodist (2024) and Miami (2020-23). At SMU he had 58 catches for 919 yards and eight TDs in 28 games, 17 of them starts and at Miami he had 48 receptions for 662 yards and five touchdowns over 29 games, including 15 starts. He also has experience as a kick returner.

-Defensive end Warren Peeples: appeared in three preseason games last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after signing as an undrafted free agent, recording six total tackles and two sacks. He enjoyed a three-year collegiate career with Southeastern Louisiana (2024), Northern Iowa (2023), and Memphis (2022) and in his final season recorded 33 total tackles (16 solo, 17 assists), and five sacks.

-Defensive end Khris Bogle: was recently drafted by the Columbus Aviators of the UFL and attended rookie mini-camp last year with the New York Giants after a college career split between Michigan State (2022-2024), and Florida (2019-2021). Bogle played in 61 games in college and in his final year with the Spartans he started all 12 contets with 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks while being named an honourable mention All-Big Ten selection.

-Defensive back Warren Burrell: enjoyed a six-year college career with Georgia Tech (2024), and Tennessee (2019-2023) and in 2024 he started nine games for the Yellow Jackets with 27 tackles, one interception and four pass knockdowns.

–Defensive back Shyheim Battle: Was in rookie minicamp with the New York Jets last spring after a four-year college career at NC State (2020-23) where he suited up for 48 games, including 12 in his senior season in which had 46 tackles, two interceptions, two tackles for loss, six pass knockdowns, and a fumble recovery.