![]() O'Donnell with the Edmonton Elks in 2021 | |
Born: | Comox, British Columbia | March 26, 1989
---|---|
Career information | |
Status | Retired |
CFL status | National |
Position(s) | Offensive lineman |
Height | 6 ft 11 in (211 cm) |
Weight | 310 lb (140 kg) |
University | Queen's |
High school | Holy Cross |
CFL draft | 2011, Round: 2, Pick: 15 |
Drafted by | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
Career history | |
As player | |
2011–2012 | Cincinnati Bengals* |
2012–2014 | Edmonton Eskimos |
2015 | Cincinnati Bengals* |
2015–2021 | Edmonton Eskimos / Elks |
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
CFL All-Star | 2017 |
CFL West All-Star | 2017, 2019 |
Career stats | |
Matthew O'Donnell (born March 26, 1989) is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played for ten years with the Edmonton Eskimos (Edmonton Elks) franchise of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Vanier Cup champion after winning with the Queen's Gaels in 2009 and he is a Grey Cup champion after winning with Edmonton in 2015. He is also a two-time CFL West Division All-Star and was named a CFL All-Star in 2017.
O'Donnell played high school football at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Kingston, Ontario.
O'Donnell played CIS football for the Queen's Gaels from 2007 to 2010. He was named a CIS All-Canadian in 2009 and 2010 at offensive tackle. On December 17, 2010, it was announced that O'Donnell was one of two CIS players to be named to the East–West Shrine Game. [1]
In the Canadian Football League's Amateur Scouting Bureau final rankings, he was ranked as the 11th best player for players eligible in the 2011 CFL Draft, and sixth by players in the CIS. [2] O'Donnell was chosen in the second round and 15th overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was the fourth offensive lineman taken in the draft, but was the highest CIS offensive lineman selected.
On May 31, 2011, it was reported that O'Donnell had chosen to delay his signing with the Roughriders due to the NBA's Boston Celtics put him through a workout session in June. This move was seen as peculiar given the fact that he had not played basketball since high school. [3]
O'Donnell also received interest from the Toronto Raptors and he attended a workout in June 2011. [4]
On July 26, 2011, O'Donnell signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals one day after the 2011 NFL Lockout. [5] In December 2011, O'Donnell signed a 2-year extension with the Bengals. [6] He was waived by the Bengals on August 31, 2012. [7]
The Roughriders traded O'Donnell's rights to the Edmonton Eskimos on September 5, 2012. He was officially signed by the Eskimos on September 17, 2012. [8] He played for the Eskimos from 2012 to 2014.
O'Donnell was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals again on February 2, 2015. [9] He was waived by the Bengals on September 5, 2015, after failing to make the 53-man final roster.
On September 9, 2015, O'Donnell re-signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. [10] He played and started in eight regular season games and two post-season games, including his start at right guard in the Eskimos' 103rd Grey Cup win. O'Donnell re-signed with the Elks on June 24, 2021. [11] He played in all 14 regular season games for the Elks in 2021. He announced his retirement on February 3, 2022. [12]
Kerry Tremaine Joseph is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the assistant quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks from 2022 to 2023.
Henry Armand Burris Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback, and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He is currently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Florida A&M. Burris played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1998 to 2016. He won three Grey Cup championships, two with the Calgary Stampeders, in 1998 and 2008, having spent 10 years of his career with them, and one with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016. He was also a sports broadcaster and football analyst at TSN, appearing as a panel member on the network's CFL on TSN broadcasts.
Rod Connop is a former professional Canadian football player for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Connop spent his entire 16-year career with the Eskimos as an offensive lineman. Connop played CIS football at Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. He was named CFL All-Star six times and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award in the 1989 CFL season. Connop played 210 consecutive games with the Eskimos from 1983 until his retirement following the 1997 season. As of 2011, he continued to be the all-time Eskimo leader in games played (274). He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 2005. His son Rory Connop played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL as a defensive lineman.
Adarius Bowman is a former American professional gridiron football wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Bowman has also been a member Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Montreal Alouettes, and Edmonton Eskimos/Elks. He played college football at Oklahoma State. Bowman was a Grey Cup Champion and three time CFL All-Star having accumulated 652 receptions for 9,491 yards and 49 touchdowns in 141 career games.
Joe McGrath is a former professional Canadian football offensive tackle. He was drafted by the Stampeders in the first round of the 2003 CFL Draft. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
Andrew Jones is a Canadian retired professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jones was drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2007 CFL Draft. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won with three different teams in a span of five years, 2011, 2012, and 2015. He played CIS football for the McMaster Marauders.
Gordon "Gord" Hinse is a professional Canadian football offensive lineman. He last played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the second round of the 2009 CFL Draft and signed a four-year deal with an option in 2013. He played CIS football for the Alberta Golden Bears - the University of Alberta team where he was named a Canada West all-star and Academic All-Canadian.
Trevor Harris is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Harris has also played in the Arena Football League (AFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Edinboro University. As Edinboro's starting quarterback, he broke "every career passing record in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference" and was a two-time finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, awarded each year to the individual selected as the most valuable player in NCAA Division II.
Tony Washington is a gridiron football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Kenny Stafford is a gridiron football wide receiver who is a free agent. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In the United States, he has been a member of the Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Pittsburgh Power (AFL) and Miami Dolphins (NFL). In the CFL, Stafford has been a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He is the nephew of former American football wide receiver and 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Cris Carter.
Shawn Lemon is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Akron. He has been a member of eight CFL teams, three indoor football teams and two NFL teams.
Deon L. Lacey is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of West Alabama. He has been a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Edmonton Eskimos / Elks, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Otha Foster III is an American former professional football defensive back. He played college football at West Alabama. He was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL), and the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Saskatchewan Roughriders and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Ese Mrabure-Ajufo is a Canadian football defensive lineman who is currently a member of the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played CIS football for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.
Adam Konar is a Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally drafted 25th overall in the 2015 CFL Draft by the Edmonton Eskimos and played for six non-consecutive seasons with the team. He played CIS football for the Calgary Dinos.
David Beard is a Canadian football offensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He previously attended the University of Alberta where he played CIS football as an offensive and defensive lineman and studied kinesiology.
Derel Walker is an American professional gridiron football wide receiver who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was named a CFL All-Star in 2015 and 2016 and received the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 2015. He is a Grey Cup champion after winning the 103rd Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos in his rookie year. He previously attended Texas A&M University where he played college football for the Aggies.
Colin Kelly is a professional gridiron football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Oregon State. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL), the Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Elks in the CFL, and the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
Jacob Ruby is a Canadian professional football offensive lineman for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Ruby played football throughout his youth and played for both high school and college teams. He was a 2010 graduate of Fork Union Military Academy. Ruby was a four-year starter at the University of Richmond.
Eric Lofton is an American professional gridiron football offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Temple.