Veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers DE Jackson Jeffcoat has retired from the CFL

Veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers defenseman Jackson Jeffcoat has retired from professional football, 3DownNation confirmed with his agent on Friday.

Jeffcoat was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 13 and has expressed little interest in returning to Winnipeg from the Bombers. He chose to retire from the game rather than try his luck with another franchise.

The 33-year-old played 14 games for the Bombers in 2023, recording 21 defensive tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. However, he continued to be plagued by injuries and would end his CFL career never having played a full season.

The six-foot-three, 251-pound pass rusher first came to Winnipeg in 2017, having played 78 career CFL games with the club. He collected 150 total tackles, 38 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and two interceptions and earned a 2021 CFL All-Star selection.

Before coming to Canada, Jeffcoat spent parts of three seasons in the NFL, originally signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He joined the Washington Commanders later that year and saw action in nine games with the team. nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and an interception. He finished his time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.

The Dallas, TX native had a stellar collegiate career at the University of Texas that included 172 total tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 26 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception over four seasons. He was named an All-American in 2013 after a 13-sack season that earned him Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive tackle.