VANCOUVER — The BC Lions have signed American linebacker Darnell Sankey to a one-year contract, the CFL club announced Friday.
Sankey spent the last three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, helping them win the Gray Cup in 2023.
He was an All-CFL East Division selection in 2024 and 2025, but the Alouettes released him on Dec. 11. He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
Montreal general manager Danny Maccioscia said at the time that the move would allow Sankey to benefit as a free agent while the Alouettes went in a different direction at middle linebacker the following season.
Sankey had 101 defensive tackles and two sacks in the 2025 regular season before the Alouettes lost 25-17 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Gray Cup game.
In three years with the Alouettes, Sankey had 239 defensive tackles, four sacks, two interceptions and five forced fumbles in 41 regular-season games.
Sankey made his CFL debut with the Calgary Stampeders in 2021, appearing in all 14 regular season games and recording 97 defensive tackles, one sack and a forced fumble while earning All-CFL West Division honors.
He had an outstanding 2022 season for Saskatchewan, with 120 defensive tackles, three sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles.
Between stints with the Roughriders and Alouettes, the 31-year-old from San Jose, Calif., won an XFL championship with the Arlington Renegades.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.
