All-star cornerback Jumal Rolle has informed the Montreal Alouettes of his intention to retire from the CFL.
The 32-year-old was placed on the team’s suspended list when training camp opened on May 14, allowing the Alouettes to retain his rights if he ever elects to return. However, general manager Danny Maciocia revealed in an interview with in-house journalist Joey Alfieri that Rolle has privately stepped away from the game.
“Jumal reached out to me a week prior to training camp. It was time, in his mind, to give back to his family and to stay close to his family,” Maciocia said. “He had expressed that desire to stay behind. He was contemplating retirement and he made the decision a few days before going to training camp. He wanted to focus all of his energy on raising his family.”
“You have to respect the fact that that’s the decision that he took. That’s what he wants to do. We left the door open. If ever anything changes, he’s more than welcome to join us here in Montreal.”
Rolle signed with the Alouettes in free agency after spending the past four seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He recorded 150 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, 11 interceptions, and two touchdowns over 65 career games, earning a CFL all-star selection in 2021 and an East Division all-star nod in each of the past two years.
The six-foot, 190-pound cover man went unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Catawba College but spent five years in the league as a member of the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals. He dressed for 19 career NFL games, recording 22 total tackles, one tackle for loss, four knockdowns, and three interceptions.
The Alouettes are scheduled to open their preseason on Friday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. EDT on the road against the Ottawa Redblacks.
