TORONTO — Playing football for a living has been Derek Slywka’s dream for as long as he can remember. After a fantastic collegiate career, Slywka has carved out his own career path and forged ahead onto the professional level.
Following his career at Ithaca College, Slywka showcased his skills in a pro day in 2024, hoping that he would land a contract offer from a National Football League team.
That day did come, and Slywka signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. He played with Indy during the 2024 preseason before being waived.
Soon after his time with the Colts, the opportunity to play in the Canadian Football League approached him.
He caught the eye of the Toronto Argonauts.
“It goes back to recently after I was waived by the Colts, I was working with my agent trying to figure out the next steps how I wanted to approach everything,” Slywka said to the Times. “There were some CFL teams that had seen me at my pro day and were interested in adding me to their negotiation list.”
The Argonauts are one of nine teams in the CFL who were interested in the kid from Waterloo.
“There was some conversations with CFL teams and then I had a better conversation with Toronto,” he added. “They wanted to get me up there, join their practice squad, with the stipulation of playing receiver, but also interested in me on the defensive side of the ball.”
Before the start of his pro career, Slywka starred at Waterloo High School where he played quarterback.
The lefty showed off his skill-set while in the orange and black as he made his way to the next level at Ithaca. Those moments back then have helped him prepare for every step of his football career.
“It’s been a lot of learning opportunities, especially with playing defensive back in the CFL with all the different motions, formations and just how much bigger the field is,” Slywka said about his first season at Toronto. “I have had some success up to this point. We’re looking to stack some momentum into the back end of the season. For me, I want to improve every week and take in all the coaching points. I just want to continue to grow as a player and that’s something I’ve taken in stride.”
At Ithaca, Slywka played defensive back. He finished with 119 total tackles while hauling in 11 interceptions and blocking four blocked kicks.
After trying out at wide receiver with the Colts, Slywka is back playing defensive back with Toronto.
“I really enjoy it. In my heart that is what I am after all my years playing that position at Ithaca,” Slywka said about playing defensive back. “I still enjoy playing receiver. It’s still something that I think I was capable of but it was one of those things that my skill-set as a defender, playing in the back end as a safety, there are some rare things that I’m capable of doing. There are some nuance things that you can’t really teach necessarily by seeing things, having the anticipation to break on the ball. Those are the things that are my stronger points as a safety.”
The CFL schedule runs for 24 weeks, starting in June all the way to the Grey Cup, which will take place on Nov. 16.
The Grey Cup is the CFL’s “Super Bowl.” In fact, it predates the Super Bowl by several decades, first being awarded 116 years ago in 1909.
The Argonauts are 4-8 currently but have won two games in a row. Slywka has played in 10 of those 12 contests, totaling 41 tackles, one interception and two massive scoop-and-score fumble recovery touchdowns.
“A lot of the stuff I learned at Ithaca, I’m still applying to this day,” Slywka said about his transition to professional football. “Playing defensive back, Ithaca prepared me a lot mentally for what it was going to take to play professionally. Obviously, you get a higher level of athleticism on the field and you’re dealing with better quarterback play. It’s been a tough transition but overall, it’s been great.”
At Ithaca, Slywka was an AP first-team All-American while also being a D3football.com First Team All-American and Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year along with many other achievements that he accomplished during his senior year with the Bombers in 2023.
“It’s because of a lot of the work that I’ve done, especially going to Kansas City for the rookie minicamp,” he added about getting to where he is today. “Those little critical learning moments that I’ve had have helped me adjust. I also had time to train after that as a defensive back. Everything that I’ve done has helped me prepare to have success at a higher level.”
It was on Week 4 of the 2025 CFL season that Toronto picked up its first victory of the season by defeating the Ottawa Redblacks 29-16.
In that game at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, Slywka picked up a fumble recovery off a Redblacks completion and returned it to the house, a 105-yard touchdown during the second quarter that was his first career pro TD.
“It was a real surreal moment,” Slywka said about that game. “Now having time to look back and process it all, it’s one of those things where I had a little extra bit of a chip on my shoulder going into that game.”
Then, in the third quarter with Slywka’s family, Ithaca head coach Michael Toerper and his former Bomber teammate, left tackle Colin Norton, all watching from the stands, Slywka returned another touchdown from 120 yards out after a blocked kick by the Argonauts on an Ottawa field goal attempt.
“It was a great moment having them there in attendance for that and celebrating with them after the game,” he added. “One, we won, which is always a great feeling and two, when you make some plays that help change the momentum of the game and help your team win that game, it’s always a special thing. That’s something you always want to do as a football player. I was grateful to get those opportunities. You’re trying to make plays but you’re trying to stay within yourself as a player and not take that risk. It’s something that I’ll never forget.”
After having at least a share of the Liberty League championship in all three of his seasons with the Bombers, Slywka brings a winning mindset to Toronto.
And, the Argonauts are starting to hit their stride with back-to-back victories. They currently sit in third place in the East Division and are one game back of a playoff spot.
“I’m excited for us as a team to win some more games,” Slywka said. “We want to continue to play high-level football. We have what is takes to make a little bit of a run in the back end of the season. That’s something that excites me to continue to work with everyone and keep correcting little things. I’m excited to play in more big-time moments and push myself as an athlete and as a football player to rise to those occasions again.”
Whether it’s winning or losing, Slywka just wants to soak in all that playing football for his job entails.
“Something I’ve enjoyed is the opportunity to continue to play football,” he said. “That’s something that I’m really grateful to do. Not everyone gets that opportunity and I’ve really enjoyed playing football. I get to live in Toronto and I get to play football every single day. That’s something that a lot of people wish could be in my shoes and it’s something that I don’t ever take lightly. In the short time that you have for your professional football career, it is something that I’ll never not enjoy and it’s something that I will not ever not be excited for to wake up and go to the facility.”