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Jeffcote hangs up his hooks – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

After a decade of professional football, including the last six games with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Jackson Jeffcoat has hung up the rugs.

The bruising defensive end announced his retirement at the age of 33 late last week. The news shocked those who follow the CFL closely, especially fans in Winnipeg, who had hoped Jeffcoat would re-sign for another season in the blue and cyan. gold.

Jeffcoat, who was out of contract and decided to hit the open market on Tuesday, hasn't had much contact with the Bombers in the offseason. The Bombers prepared to move on from the Texas native after signing several other players, including defensive end Willie Jefferson.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILE Jackson Jeffcoat is calling it quits at age 33 after spending 10 years in professional football, six with the Bombers.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES

Jackson Jeffcoat is calling it quits at the age of 33 after 10 years in professional football, six of them with the scorers.

Jeffcoat took advantage of the CFL's negotiating window, which runs from Feb. 4-11, to allow players to test interest from other teams. Not much commitment was offered from clubs around the league, with no team willing to sign him at fair market value.

While there were many positives to Jeffcoat's years in Winnipeg, one of the knocks against him was his propensity for injury. Since joining the Bombers in 2017, he has averaged 13 games a year and never played a full season.

Last year, Jeffcott played in 14 games and finished with 21 defensive tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. In 78 CFL regular season games, all with the scorers, he combined for 147 defensive tackles, two interceptions, 38 sacks and 13 forced fumbles. Jeffcoat added 12 more sacks in 12 playoff games, including four Gray Cups for the two-time league champion.

Before joining the Bombers, Jeffcoat spent years trying to crack an NFL roster, and like his father, Jim Jeffcoat, he had a flamboyant career down south, including a pair of Super Bowl wins with the Dallas Cowboys. Jeffcoat Jr. played in nine games in Seattle, Washington and was in Cleveland.

Jeffcoat had a four-year collegiate career at the University of Texas where he totaled 172 tackles, including 50 for a loss; 26 bags; four forced fumbles and an interception. In 2013, he won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award as well as the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.