For a franchise built on strong community ties and a family-oriented locker room, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ decision to sign American defensive back Demerio Houston comes with a layer of complexity.
Houston, a former Grey Cup champion with the Bombers, rejoins the club months after his release from the Calgary Stampeders following a domestic violence charge that was later dropped. The move raises questions about accountability, due diligence and what a second chance truly entails in a league that has committed to a strong gender-based violence policy.
On Monday, following his first practice back with the team, Houston addressed the situation with a calm and deliberate tone, emphasizing his gratitude and a desire to move forward.
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Demerio Houston last played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023.
“It feels great to be back,” Houston said. “I’m just happy to get another opportunity and be back with the team that gave me my first opportunity.”
Houston’s departure from Calgary came after a public report that he was facing a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in North Carolina, stemming from an alleged incident in November where he was accused of hitting his wife with a suitcase. The report from the issuing magistrate noted a history of domestic violence, a claim Houston publicly denied.
Shortly after charges were laid, Houston admitted in an Instagram post to putting his family through an emotional and mental roller-coaster but claimed he has never physically harmed his family. The charges were dismissed in March, and Houston said they were on the verge of being expunged from his record.
“But, like I said, at the end of the day, I’m just trying to move forward and just try to take advantage of my second opportunity,” he added.
When pressed on what he has done to be a better man and learn from the situation, Houston confirmed he underwent mandatory steps from the CFL.
“Just be there for my family,” he said. “Had some requirements through the CFL that I had to go through, and everything’s completed and done with. And, like I said, I’m grateful to just have another opportunity. Just going to play football.”
He later clarified that the requirements included counselling and a therapist, indicating the league’s gender-based violence policy — which focuses on rehabilitation and education — was put into practice. He confirmed the league was in communication with him before and after his release from the Stampeders, conducting an investigation to ensure he was cleared to play again.
Clubs were notified in the off-season that the CFL would register a contract provided the conditions were met.
“Everything’s clear. I’m just here to play ball,” Houston repeated.
For the Bombers, the decision to sign Houston was a matter of trusting the league’s process. Head coach Mike O’Shea, a man who has cultivated a culture of integrity and family within the organization, said the team had conversations with the player but did not conduct a formal investigation.
“We had him here before, he’s been good for us,” O’Shea said. “He’s done very well in this league and he’s available. So, bring him back.”
The move to bring Houston back is a logical one from a football perspective. In his first three seasons with Winnipeg, he played in 30 games and recorded 84 defensive tackles and nine interceptions.
He was a member of the Bombers Grey Cup team in 2021 and earned CFL All-Star honours in 2023 after leading the league with seven interceptions. He also had a productive season with the Stampeders last year, registering 74 tackles and five interceptions in 15 games.
O’Shea made it clear that, while need might have played a factor as the Bombers have had their share of injuries in the secondary, it would never trump integrity. Instead, he pointed to the league’s comprehensive investigation as the key determining factor.
“I would always be concerned about being in the community and making sure that we’re good citizens of the community,” O’Shea said. “But also, in this organization, we deal with humans and we also deal with humans that make mistakes and work hard to be better.”
A league spokesperson shed further light on the process, confirming that “upon learning of the situation, the CFL initiated a third-party investigation; the findings of which determined that Mr. Houston had violated the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence Policy.”
The league also contacted the victim and offered support throughout the process, marking a critical part of the league’s policy and path to redemption. As part of the resolution, Houston was required to complete a minimum number of counselling sessions with a gender-based violence expert and is subject to ongoing monitoring.
O’Shea affirmed his confidence in the process, despite admitting he doesn’t know the specifics of the league’s investigation.
“If our scouting department likes a guy and there’s been something in the past, we submit it to the league. And they say ‘yay’ or ‘nay,’” he said. “As far as we’re concerned, everything was dropped. And the league probably went further than that.”
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The conversation around Houston’s return also extends into the locker room, where his presence appears to be a welcome one. Veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson, a cornerstone of the team’s culture and a four-time CFL All-Star, expressed support for his teammate.
“Demerio is a good guy. We love him like he’s one of our own; he is one of our own,” Jefferson said. “But at the same time, you got to handle your business. On the field, off the field, you’re part of an organization and you have to take care of your business.”
Jefferson acknowledged the team’s role in helping Houston navigate his second chance.
“That’s the side of things we can help him with,” he said. “We know who Demerio is, we know who his wife is and his kids. With him coming back here, being with us, we’re going to love on him and his family and not down talk him or wag our fingers at him. We’re going to bring him in, love him and try to push him in the right direction. You got to make the best of your opportunity.”
jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca
Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer
Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.
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