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Saskatchewan Roughriders sign veteran punter Jon Ryan to one-year deal

May 14, 2019 | 10:41 AM

REGINA — Punter Jon Ryan has returned home.

The 37-year-old Regina native signed a one-year deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday. The six-foot, 217-pound Ryan returns to the CFL following 12 seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

Ryan began his pro football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-05) before joining the Packers (2006-07). Ryan then spent 10 seasons in Seattle (2008-17) before being released.

He then signed with the Buffalo Bills but was released, and didn’t play at all last season.

Ryan appeared in 191 career NFL games, registering a 44.7-yard punting average and 38.7-yard net average. He became the first Saskatchewan native to win a Super Bowl when Seattle dispatched the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Feb, 2, 2014.

He also became the first punter to throw a touchdown pass in an NFL playoff game, and first Canadian to do so since Washington quarterback Mark Rypien in 1993, when he hit backup tackle Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal during Seattle’s 28-22 win over Green Bay in the 2015 NFC title game.

Ryan remains the Seahawks all-time leader in punts (770), gross average punts (44.9 yards) and net average (40.8 yards). 

The Canadian Press