The Ottawa Redblacks signed defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado to a one-year contract through the 2026 season on Tuesday.
Habakkuk Baldonado is six foot five and weighs 260 pounds. The 26-year-old from Rome, Italy, made 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 games for the Roughriders in 2025, helping the Roughriders win the 112th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Baldonado in the second round (12th pick) of the 2023 CFL Global Draft. The New York Giants signed Baldonado as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. In 2023, he made five tackles (1 solo, 4 assists), one sack, and one pass breakup in three preseason games.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Baldonado on September 18, 2023. In 2023, he made three tackles and two tackles for loss in four games. In 2024, he made 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two sacks in 14 games.
Collegiately, Baldonado played five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2018-22) with 99 tackles (45 solos, 54 assists), 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 40 games for the Panthers.
He was named Second Team All-ACC in 2021 and named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team in 2022, and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
