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Redblacks acquire rights to Canadian linebacker Francis from Elks

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks have acquired the rights to Canadian linebacker Kevin Francis from the Edmonton Elks for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 CFL draft. The 30-year-old Francis was on the Elks' suspended list. The Elks signed Francis on Feb.
Canadian Press
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The logos of the CFL and the Ottawa Redblacks are seen on mini footballs for sale at a kiosk at TD Place, home of the Ottawa Redblacks, in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.The Redblacks have acquired the rights to Canadian linebacker Kevin Francis from the Edmonton Elks for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 CFL draft.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks have acquired the rights to Canadian linebacker Kevin Francis from the Edmonton Elks for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 CFL draft.

The 30-year-old Francis was on the Elks' suspended list.

The Elks signed Francis on Feb. 14, but after the deal was made the special-teams ace publicly stated he wasn’t happy with the contract terms and didn’t report to camp. 

Francis, from Toronto, had a CFL-leading 22 special-teams tackles with the B.C. Lions in 2022.

It will be his second stint in Ottawa. He had eight special-teams tackles in seven games with the Redblacks in 2019.

Francis has recorded 18 defensive tackles and 61 special-teams tackles in 82 career regular-season games with Saskatchewan, Ottawa and B.C.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 4, 2023.

The Canadian Press