The Toronto Argonauts have signed American defensive lineman Kony Ealy.
The six-foot-four, 275-pounder was selected in the second round, 60th overall during the 2014 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He spent three seasons in Carolina (2014-2016) and tallied 90 tackles, 15 sacks, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions in 62 games.
The North Carolina native helped the Panthers reach Super Bowl 50 where he had three sacks, which tied a Super Bowl record, and became the first player ever to record an interception and multiple sacks in the NFL championship game.
Ealy was traded to the New England Patriots in 2017 but he waived at the end of training camp that season. The pass rusher was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets in August 2017 and played in 15 games for the Jets registering 14 tackles, one sack and one interception. The former University of Missouri Tiger spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders in 2018 but never saw any game snaps.
The 29-year-old Ealy played five games for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020 recording nine tackles and half a sack before the league ceased operations in April.
