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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cYou can never count us out,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cTwo 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) \u2026 we made our way through the season and with the ups and downs still made it to the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe season didn\u2019t end the way we wanted, but we\u2019ve got the guys. If you turn on the tape and watch a Winnipeg football game, it\u2019s exciting from start to finish. You can never turn off the TV and count us out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cmaking field goals from the other side of the 50.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s hard to not want to be a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan or think we can\u2019t make it happen,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have the tools. We\u2019re picking up some new tools which are supposed to be an enhancement from years prior\u2026 that\u2019s 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 \u2014 especially with it being back in Calgary and we were able to get over that hump in 2019 in Calgary.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 Already this offseason they\u2019re 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\u2019d end up in the win column; same way in the Eastern Semi-Final \u2014 a couple plays go a different way and then we\u2019re on to Hamilton (for the Eastern Final) and then possibly onto the Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the guys to make it happen,\u201d he added. \u201cYou can see that in the roster. I believe in Zach. I believe in Coach O\u2019Shea. I believe in Kyle (Walters, GM). I believe in Demski, Brady and especially the defence. We\u2019ve got JY coming back and this is going to be (third) year as defensive coordinator and we\u2019ve got some stuff clicking.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re interested the audio from Jefferson\u2019s entire media conference can be listened to here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
More from Jefferson and other notes in this week\u2019s edition of 1st & 10\u2026.<\/p>\n
THE SACK TOTALS\u2026 Jefferson tied his personal best with 16 pass knockdowns in 2025, but his quarterback sack totals dipped to three. He\u2019s made no secret of his pursuit of 100-100 \u2014 100 career sacks and 100 pass knockdowns, which would be a CFL first \u2014 but while his knockdown total is a solid 94, his sack total is 77.<\/p>\n
And he\u2019ll turn 35 at the end of this month.<\/p>\n
Age, he\u2019ll insist, is just a number.<\/p>\n
\u201cTurn on the tape. I\u2019m back there,\u201d he insisted. \u201cI\u2019m in the quarterback\u2019s face, I\u2019m 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\u2019ll see I\u2019m back there. There were a lot of misses this year \u2014 a LOT \u2014 and that\u2019s something I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 You turn on the tape and you can see I still played a big role when I was on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
COACH THOMAS\u2026 Here\u2019s 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\u2019s new defensive line boss:<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s going to be exciting. I\u2019m truly excited to see how Jake switches it up from being a player to being a coach. We\u2019ve 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a blessing. I was very happy for Jake and I\u2019m even more thrilled to be one of his guys that he gets to do his first year of coaching with. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
HIS LEGACY\u2026 Jefferson also talked about his personal goals and chasing a spot among the Blue Bombers legends.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m working to be one of those names up there with those great guys in the Ring of Honour,\u201d he said. \u201cI 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\u2019m trying my best to get to the top.\u201d<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
HUGE NEWS\u2026 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.<\/p>\n
More details on that announcement can be found here:<\/p>\n
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