Kene Onyeka signs one-day contract to retire with Ottawa Redblacks

Photo courtesy: Ottawa Redblacks

Canadian defensive lineman Kene Onyeka has signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks, the team announced on Wednesday.

“Ottawa will always have a special place in my heart,” said Onyeka in a statement. “I played my university football here and to have the opportunity to get drafted to a team in the same city and spend virtually my entire career here was a special experience.”

“I want to thank my family, teammates, and coaches who helped me through my football career. I also want to give a shoutout to the incredible fans in Ottawa who made every home game an unforgettable experience. I’m incredibly grateful to announce my retirement as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks.”

The 29-year-old played 81 regular-season games over six seasons with the Redblacks, recording 55 defensive tackles, 55 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, two pass knockdowns, and two forced fumbles.

The six-foot-three, 245-pound defender was originally selected in the fourth round of the 2018 CFL Draft out of Carleton University. Onyeka returned to school for his final year of U Sports eligibility that same year, where he earned his second first-team U Sports All-Canadian selection.

Onyeka signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a free agent in February but was released by the team at the conclusion of training camp. He remained a free agent until announcing his retirement.

“Kene was the ultimate teammate and a true professional who was committed to his teammates and the Redblacks organization every day,” said vice-president of football operations Shawn Burke.

“He brought that same level of dedication to everything he did off the field, whether it was in the community or simply being there for the people around him. We’re incredibly grateful for everything Kene gave to the Redblacks and wish him and his family nothing but the best in the next chapter.”

The Ottawa Redblacks (0-8) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday, August 14 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks suffered a 42-20 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week, while the Blue Bombers were on bye.

The weather forecast in Winnipeg calls for 23 degrees with a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.