(Montreal) The Montreal Alouettes confirmed Friday that linebacker Darnell Sankey has agreed to a two-year contract extension to remain with the Gray Cup champions.
The six-foot-one, 245-pound Californian could have been released in February. According to a CFL source, the contract extension would net him more than $340,000.
Sankey joined the Alouettes on September 11 and his impact was immediate. In six games, he contributed 31 tackles, one sack and one interception. It was especially in the playoffs that he shone: in three games, he amassed 22 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, in addition to causing a fumble.
The 29-year-old football player had eight tackles and a sack, as well as recovering a fumble, during the Gray Cup game on November 19 in Hamilton, as Montreal triumphed 28-24 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
This victory was the eighth in a row for the Birds, the last two of which came at the expense of the two best clubs in the league. The Alouettes previously defeated the Toronto Argonauts 38-17 at BMO Field in the Eastern final.
The Montreal team earned its first CFL title since 2010.
“I liked what we built this year, both on the field and in the locker room. My goal is to continue to help the team be successful, Sankey said in a press release. I thank the Alouettes organization, I can’t wait to get back on the field and win. »
In May of this year, Sankey helped the Arlington Renegades win the XFL championship with a 35-26 victory over the D.C. Defenders.
Sankey led the Canadian League with 98 tackles in 2021, with Calgary, and 122 the following year, with Saskatchewan.
The former Sacramento State University Hornets played a few games in the NFL wearing the uniforms of Denver, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Detroit and New Orleans.
