Honour Roll

-CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player: 2019
-CFL All-Star: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
-Most Outstanding Defensive Player, West Division: 2019
-CFLPA All-Star: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
-West Division All-Star: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
-Most Outstanding Player: Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 2019; Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2018
-Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 2019, 2022, 2023; Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2018
-Ed Kotowich ‘Good Guy Award’, 2022
-Cal Murphy ‘Heart of a Legend Award’, 2023

Media

-“That’s my thing. I chose not to leave. I chose to stay with the Bombers” — January 13, 2025

-The Huddle — July 9, 2024

-Pat Neufeld/Willie Jefferson recipients of Blue Bombers community service awards — May 2, 2024

-The Long Read | Willie Jefferson — November 21, 2019

2024: Blue Bombers

Jefferson was named to the All-CFL team for a sixth time in 2024 after leading the club in quarterback sacks with six – the fourth time in five seasons he has led the team – while adding 25 defensive tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and adding 10 pass knockdowns.

He then followed that up in the Grey Cup loss to Toronto with six tackles, two sacks, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and interception in one of the best games of his career.

Jefferson now has 43 career sacks as a Blue Bomber, ranking him tied for sixth all-time in franchise history with Michael Gray. His 74 total career sacks currently ranks 29^th in CFL history. Jefferson is also the only player in CFL history with at least 50 sacks and 50 pass knockdowns, with his 78 knockdowns ranking fourth all time.

A respected and vocal leader in the locker room, Jefferson has played in 155 CFL games, including 80 with the Blue Bombers, and has three Grey Cup rings (Edmonton, 2015; Winnipeg 2019, 2021).

A Winnipeg resident, he is also one of the team’s most visible players in the community and has been the recipient of both the Ed Kotowich ‘Good Guy Award’ (2022) and the Cal Murphy ‘Heart of a Legend’ Award (2023).

Jefferson signed a one-year contract to remain with the club on January 12, 2025.

2023: Blue Bombers

Jefferson’s dominance continued in 2023 for the Blue Bombers, as he again was a force from his defensive end position. He led the Blue Bombers with 11 sacks — tied for the third-highest total in the CFL — and added 21 tackles, three forced fumbles and a league-best 13 pass knockdowns.

Those numbers helped him earn his third nomination as the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive Player and spots on both the West Division and CFL All-Star Teams.

2022: Blue Bombers

Jefferson continued to stack one good season on top of another in 2022, as he was named the Blue Bombers’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a West Division All-Star.

Despite being constantly double-teamed, Jefferson led the club with seven quarterback sacks and added 33 tackles, one interception for a touchdown, two forced fumbles, and 10 pass knockdowns. During the 2022 season, Jefferson also became the first player in CFL history to record 50 sacks and 50 pass knockdowns.

Jefferson signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the club in 2023 rather than become a free agent on November 26, 2022

2021: Blue Bombers

Jefferson backed up his outstanding 2019 campaign with the Blue Bombers with a stellar 2021 season in helping the team capture back-to-back Grey Cup championships. Jefferson recorded seven quarterback sacks, 18 tackles, two interceptions – including one for a touchdown – and three forced fumbles as part of a historically-stingy defensive unit.

He added a combined five tackles, a quarterback sack and a forced fumble in the Western Final and Grey Cup, helping the Bombers capture the franchise’s 12th title.
Those totals helped him again earn berths on the West Division and CFL All-Star Teams.

2019: Blue Bombers

In Jefferson’s first year as a Blue Bomber he posted a career-best 12 quarterback sacks, set a new CFL record for pass knockdowns by a defensive lineman with 16 (best in the league), while also leading the CFL with six forced fumbles and adding 24 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries. Jefferson was also dominant in the Grey Cup, registering thee sacks and forcing two fumbles as the Bombers captured their first championship since 1990 and 11th in franchise history.

For his efforts, Jefferson was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the first time in his career and was also named a CFL All-Star and West Division All-Star for the third consecutive season. Jefferson was also named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019.

He signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the club on February 10, 2020.

2016-18: Saskatchewan Roughriders

Jefferson was a defensive force for the Riders in 2018, registering a career-high 10 quarterback sacks and adding 24 defensive tackles, two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns — while forcing two fumbles in 18 games played. In the process, he was named the club’s Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding defensive player while being named to both the CFL and West Division All-Star Teams.
He signed with the Blue Bombers as a free agent on February 12, 2019.
Jefferson appeared in all 18 games for the Riders in 2017, posting a career-high 45 tackles with eight sacks and a touchdown. He led the entire CFL in QB pressures in 2017 with 37. Those numbers helped him earn places on both the CFL and West Division All-Star Teams.
Jefferson signed with the Riders on September 28, 2016 after attending training camp with the Washington Redskins. He would appear in five CFL games that fall, registering eight tackles and three sacks.

2014-15: Edmonton Eskimos

Jefferson first came to the Canadian Football League in 2014, signing with the Edmonton Eskimos after being signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and then being released later that season.
He appeared in 35 regular-season games over two seasons with the Eskimos, picking up 40 tackles and registering 10 sacks while forcing three fumbles. He was part of the Eskimos 2015 Grey Cup championship team.

College

Jefferson began his college career as a receiver at Baylor University before transferring to Stephen F Austin University. He was converted to defensive end there, and was named the  Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2011, his Junior season after leading the conference in sacks with 16.