Veteran pass rusher A.C. Leonard appeared to announce his retirement from professional football in a cryptic Instagram post on Sunday night, though the message has since been taken down.
Sources close to Leonard have told 3DownNation that he intends to retire, though he has not replied to our request for official confirmation. The 32-year-old recorded a single-season career-high 12 sacks with the Edmonton Elks in 2023, earning just over $170,000.
The six-foot-two, 250-pound defender has played 101 regular season CFL games as a member of the B.C. Lions, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Ottawa Redblacks, and Elks. He made 278 defensive tackles, 51 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three special teams tackles, and one interception after converting to the defensive line with the Riders in 2016.
The native of Palatka, Fla. led the CFL in sacks during the shortened 2021 season, recording 11 in 11 games. He was suspended for two games that year after failing to provide a sample for drug testing following the Labour Day Classic on Sept. 5. An additional one-game suspension was levied the following week for “verbal abuse and unacceptable behaviour” towards doping control officers.
Leonard broke into the CFL with the B.C. Lions in 2015 as a tight end after spending the previous season with the Minnesota Vikings. Leonard played two seasons at Tennessee State University as a receiver, where he registered 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns on 85 receptions.
He has been a free agent since his contract with the Elks expired last month despite interest from multiple CFL teams.