Hamilton Tiger-Cats release veteran returner Mario Alford, two others

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released three players, including veteran returner Mario Alford after giving him a $2,500 signing bonus according to 3DownNation insider Justin Dunk.

The 34-year-old signed with Hamilton in February during CFL free agency and suited up in the team’s preseason game against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, but was released to make room for Isaiah Wooden Sr. to return. He returned a missed field goal 112 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty on the Ticats.

Alford played in 11 regular-season games with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2025. He registered 44 punt returns for 476 yards and 31 kick-off returns for 876 yards with one touchdown. In the 112th Grey Cup win, the Greenville, GA native recorded three kick-off returns for 92 yards and three punt returns for 29 yards.

Alford holds the Riders’ franchise record for most career return touchdowns with nine, while tying the records for the most punt return touchdowns in a season (three) and game (two). He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2022 and West Division all-star in 2023.

The five-foot-eight, 180-pound speedster has recorded one carry for 10 yards, nine catches for 77 yards, 286 punt returns for 3,278 yards, 197 kickoff returns for 4,771 yards, 15 missed field goal returns for 580 yards, and scored 12 total touchdowns over seven seasons with Toronto, Montreal, and Saskatchewan.

Prior to coming north of the border, Alford was selected in the seventh-round, 238th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals coming out of West Virginia University. He spent one year with the Bengals, then had stints with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears while earning $665,950 USD in the NFL.

American running back Shane Watts and American defensive back Gavin Gibson have also been cut by the Tiger-Cats. Meanwhile, American running back Trent Battle and American defensive back Stephen Douglas have been signed by Hamilton.

The 23-year-old Battle played 48 games over four seasons at Texas Christian University (2022-2025), rushing 127 times for 598 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 27 receptions for 253 yards. The six-foot-one, 205-pound Daphne, Ala. native recorded 11 special teams tackles, eight solo, during his collegiate career. He attended rookie mini-camp with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2026 NFL Draft.

The 24-year-old Douglas played two seasons at Northwood University (2023-2025), dressed in 16 games, recorded 103 tackles, 73 solo, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, eight pass breakups and one blocked kick. Prior to transferring to Northwood, the five-foot-11, 192-pound Conifer, CO native spent two seasons at Albion College (2021-2022), he registered 42 tackles, 31 solo, three tackles for loss, three passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble and one blocked kick in 11 games.

Douglas initially signed with the Ticats in March 2026.