The Ottawa Redblacks released linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox on Friday.
Jovan Santos-Knox is six foot two and weighs 233 pounds. The 31-year-old from Waterbury, Connecticut, re-signed with the Redblacks on January 28, 2025. In 2025, he made 80 tackles and one interception in 18 games. Ottawa named him the team’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Santos-Knox on June 18, 2017. He played two seasons in Winnipeg with 129 tackles, 20 tackles on special teams, eight sacks, and two interceptions in 34 games, of which 26 were starts. Next, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) on February 13, 2019. In 2019, he made 13 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and one sack in three games, of which two were starts.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Santos-Knox on February 6, 2021. He played two seasons in Hamilton with 177 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 31 games. In 2022, he was named a CFL East All-Star.
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Santos-Knox as a free agent on February 7, 2023. He missed six games of the 2023 season due to an ankle injury but finished the season making 64 tackles and three sacks in 12 games. In 2024, he made 65 tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 12 games. He missed six games in 2024 due to a knee injury.
Collegiately, Santos-Knox played four seasons at the University of Massachusetts (2012-15) with 338 tackles (117 solos, 338 assists), 24.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 46 games for the Minutemen.
