Photo courtesy: Tennessee Titans.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have re-signed American defensive back Matthew Jackson.
The six-foot-one, 209-pound Jackson returns to the Manitoba capital after spending over a month on the team’s practice roster in 2025.
Following the 2023 NFL Draft, Jackson signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent and earned a spot on the team’s 53-man roster following training camp. He appeared in nine regular season games that year, registering five special teams tackles and one defensive tackle.
After playing three preseason games with the Titans in 2024 and recording four tackles, Jackson was waived by the team. Two days later, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him to the practice squad. He was elevated for one regular season game against the Indianapolis Colts before being released.
The 27-year-old Jackson earned approximately $800,000 USD while playing in the NFL.
At Eastern Kentucky University (2018–2022), Jackson appeared in 50 games, recording 294 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, eight sacks, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He established himself as one of the top defensive players in the NCAA FCS, earning All-ASUN honours while being named a finalist status for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2021.
Winnipeg was active in free agency, signing receivers Tommy Nield and Tim White, offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, defensive lineman Jake Ceresna, linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, and defensive back Jonathan Moxey. The team also suffered a few departures, including receiver Keric Wheatfall (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and defensive lineman James Vaughters (Saskatchewan Roughriders). Jake Thomas, the franchise’s longest-tenured player, retired to become its defensive line coach.
The Blue Bombers hold the fourth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on Sunday, May 10. Winnipeg will play its first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, May 23 and first regular-season game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, June 5.
In 2025, the Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes.
