OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks signed Canadian defensive lineman Luiji Vilain to a three-year contract Monday.
Ottawa acquired Vilain’s rights last week from the Toronto Argonauts.
Vilain, a 28-year-old Ottawa native, played five games over two NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2022-23) and Carolina Panthers (2023), registering four total tackles.
He also spent time with the Cleveland Browns (2024) and Dallas Cowboys (2024-25).
Toronto selected the six-foot-four, 250-pound Vilain in the third round (No. 25 overall) of the 2021 CFL draft. He finished his NCAA career at Wake Forest in 2021 with 34 tackles (10 for loss), a team-leading nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Vilain began at Michigan, appearing in 12 games over two seasons (2019-20) with 11 tackles (one for loss) and a forced fumble.
“I can say I’m extremely happy to be back home representing my city, my community and the Redblacks,” Vilain said in a statement. ”Ottawa is my home, it’s where I grew up.
“It’s where my family is. I always knew that I would play in the CFL at some point in my career, and deep down I always wanted it to be Ottawa, so for that to happen it’s honestly a dream come true.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2026.
The Canadian Press
