Longtime Montreal Alouettes defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy retires from CFL

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Canadian defensive back Marc-Antoine Dequoy has retired from professional football.

“I want to thank Pierre Karl Péladeau, Danny Maciocia, and the Montreal Alouettes for allowing me to live out my childhood dream and spend my career in Montreal,” Dequoy said in a statement.

“There was a genuine desire to return and we had an agreement on the table, but after discussing it with my loved ones late into the night, I realized my body was no longer ready for that kind of sacrifice. I will never forget the fans of this city and all the love they gave me throughout my career. I cherished every second of my time in Montreal, and I leave at peace, with a clear mind.”

Dequoy suited up in 15 games for the Als in 2025, recording 34 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, three sacks, and one pick-six while helping the team make it to the 112th Grey Cup. The 31-year-old was named an All-CFL selection at safety in 2023 and 2024 and played a key role in the Alouettes’ CFL title in 2023.

The Ile Bizard, Que. native was originally selected by Montreal in the second round, 14th overall during the 2020 CFL Draft. After a stint with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020, he has spent his entire CFL career with the Als, registering 162 defensive tackles, 21 special teams tackles, 12 interceptions, five forced fumbles, three sacks, and three defensive touchdowns.

“I want to thank Marc-Antoine for the service he has given us since the beginning of his career with us,” general manager Danny Maciocia said in a statement.

“I recruited him out of the Université de Montréal when he was playing at the CEGEP level, and I have always admired his talent as well as his warm and charismatic personality. He played a key role in our Grey Cup championship in 2023 and has been deeply involved in all of our community initiatives since joining the nest. We will miss him, but I am confident he will enjoy great success in the job market in the years ahead.”

Dequoy played collegiately at the Université de Montréal under then-head coach and current Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia. The six-foot-one, 195-pound defender was twice-named a first-team All-Canadian, earned second-team honours and won the RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018. He garnered an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2020, though the event was not held due to the pandemic.

Dequoy had two offers on the table, including one from the Alouettes, to continue his playing career in the CFL, per sources.

Montreal finished second in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record and beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final, but then lost the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Davis Alexander went 7-0 as a starter during the regular season, though he missed 11 games due to a hamstring injury.

The Alouettes ranked eighth in net offence, first in net defence, and third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The team’s leading rusher was Stevie Scott III with 418 yards, the leading receiver was Tyler Snead with 1,129 yards, and the leading tackler was Darnell Sankey with 103 tackles. Montreal finished sixth in attendance with average crowds of 21,132, which was a 0.8 percent decrease from the previous year.