The Montreal Alouettes released defensive lineman Shawn Oakman on Friday after the CFL suspended him for violating the league’s Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy.
“The Canadian Football League takes violations of our Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy with the utmost seriousness. Our policy is clear, and our commitment to enforcing it is unwavering. Following review, we have made the decision to suspend Mr. Oakman indefinitely,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston.
According to the CFL, the league was made aware of the allegations on Thursday and immediately initiated a third-party investigation, which included interviews with Mr. Oakman and the complainant.
Once the investigation was complete, the league revealed that Mr. Oakman threatened to send sexually explicit material to an intimate partner’s child, who is a minor. Mr. Oakman’s actions constitute a breach of the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy.
The CFL condemns gender-based violence in all of its forms, including but not limited to intimate partner violence, sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and verbal abuse, coercive control, as well as the disrespectful and demeaning attitudes that foster violence or the tolerance of such violence. Whether these behaviors occur in public or private, gender-based violence will not be tolerated by the CFL.
“We hold everyone in our organization to the highest standard of integrity and respect both on and off the field,” general manager Danny Maciocia said. “We’ve decided to release Shawn Oakman because his actions go against our core values.”
Collegiately, Lemon played four seasons at the University of Akron (2007-10) with 102 tackles (53 solos, 49 assists), 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one pass breakup, six forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 41 games for the Zips. In his final season, Lemon made 39 tackles, seven sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 12 games.
Shawn Oakman is six foot nine and weighs 287 pounds. The 33-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on February 11, 2025. In 2025, he made 34 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in 17 games.
Oakman played indoor football with the Triangle Torch (AIFA), Bismarck Bucks (IFL), and the West Virginia Roughriders (NAL). In 2020, he played for the Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL) with seven tackles (3 solos, 4 assists) and one sack in five games before the league suspended operations due to the pandemic.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Oakman on February 15, 2021. In three seasons, Oakman has made 90 tackles, one tackle on special teams, 18 sacks, and one forced fumble in 45 games for the Argonauts. He helped the Argonauts win the Grey Cup in 2022, along with being named a CFL All-Star in 2021 and named two-time CFL East All-Star (2021-22).
In 2023, Oakman made 27 tackles and six sacks in 15 games. Oakman re-signed with the Argonauts on February 14, 2024. Oakman appeared in one preseason game for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, recording no stats. The Argonauts released him on June 11, 2024.
The Edmonton Elks signed Oakman on July 7, 2024. In 2024, Oakman made 32 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble in 14 games. He became a free agent after the 2024 season. On November 18, 2024, he was named an assistant General Manager of the Beaumont Renegades (NAL).
Collegiately, Oakman was a redshirt freshman at Penn State in 2011. Oakman did not play for the Nittany Lions as he was dismissed from the team on February 27, 2012, for violating team rules. Then, he transferred to Baylor (2013-15) with 128 tackles (90 solos, 38 assists), 46.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, three pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 36 games for the Bears.
