The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American defensive back Brandon Alexander to a one-year contract extension for the 2021 season.
He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
The six-foot, 198-pound Alexander returns to the Bombers for a fourth season after originally signing with the blue and gold in 2017.
Alexander has developed into a respected leader and veteran presence over his three years and 39 regular season games with the Bombers. He was limited to 10 games in last season due to injury, but played a pivotal role in the team’s run to the Grey Cup, especially after being shifted from defensive halfback to the safety position later in the season.
He registered five tackles in the Western Semi-Final win over the Calgary Stampeders, had a forced fumble in the Western Final victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders and provided a tone-setting interception in the first quarter of the 2019 Grey Cup win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Selected as the Bombers Most Outstanding Rookie in 2017, Alexander has 126 tackles, four interceptions – including one for a touchdown – and four forced fumbles in his days in Winnipeg.
A walk-on at Central Florida University, he was twice nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy – awarded annually to the college football player who began his career as a walk-on player. Alexander went unselected in the 2015 NFL Draft, although the Atlanta Falcons invited him to rookie mini-camp, but he was not offered a contract at the end.
The 27-year-old Alexander was working as a teacher when the Bombers approached him prior to the 2017 season.
