CFL: 9
Tiger-Cats: 1
Acquired: Signed as a free agent February 10, 2026
CAREER
2022-2025: Roughriders
Since joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022, Alford has become one of the CFL’s premier return specialists and one of the most explosive players in franchise history. In his first season with Saskatchewan, he recorded a team-record four return touchdowns — including scores on a punt return, kickoff return, and missed field goal return — becoming just the fifth player in CFL history to complete the return “cycle.” He finished the year with over 1,500 combined return yards and was named the CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Award winner.
In 2023, he earned West Division All-Star honours after returning three punts for touchdowns, including two in a single game against the Calgary Stampeders, while setting a franchise record with 89 punt returns. He continued his elite production in 2024, totaling 1,878 return yards and another touchdown, highlighted by a 101-yard opening kickoff return touchdown. In 2025, Alford added more signature moments, including a game-winning 99-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts and becoming Saskatchewan’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards (4,124).
2019-2022: Alouettes
On September 24, 2019, it was announced that Alford had signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He was signed for the 2021 season on December 15, 2020. Over parts of three seasons, Alford played in nine games with the Alouettes where he had 24 kickoff returns for 477 yards, 26 punt returns for 486 yards and three touchdowns, and two missed field goal returns for 45 yards.
2018: Argonauts
Alford appeared in six games and caught seven passes for 57 yards, returned eight kickoffs for 170 yards, had five punt returns for seven yards, and rushed the ball once for 10 yards.
2015-2017: NFL Stints
Alford began his professional career after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He appeared in one game as a rookie, recording one catch for 15 yards, before being released in 2016.
He later spent time with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears organizations, primarily on practice squads and active roster stints.
COLLEGE
2013-2014: West Virginia
Alford played two seasons at West Virginia, suiting up for 22 games as a Mountaineer. He caught 92 career passes for 1,497 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also returned 37 kickoffs for 972 yards (26.3-yard average) and two touchdowns. In 2014, he led the NCAA in return touchdowns (two) and he led the Big-12 in receiving touchdowns (11).
2011-2012: Georgia Military
Prior to attending West Virginia, Alford was a running back with the Georgia Military Bulldogs and, in his second season, led the team with 541 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
PERSONAL
Alford farms near Sistersville, W. Va., during the off-season.
MEDIA
- VIDEO: Aug. 17, 2022 interview
- VIDEO: Sept. 13, 2022 interview
- VIDEO: Oct. 26, 2022 interview
- March 26, 2023: Roughriders’ Mario Alford returns to the farm every off-season
- Aug. 3, 2023: Life on the farm is kinda laid-back for Roughriders’ Mario Alford
- July 16, 2023: Super Mario’s meteoric rise in the record book
- VIDEO: Sept. 8, 2023 interview
- VIDEO: Sept. 22, 2023 post-game
- Nov. 2, 2023: Alford, Dean, Korsak named West Division All-Stars
- April 17, 2024: Mario Alford has travelled a long distance in a short time
- June 14, 2024: “The story is Mario Alford”: Riders returner still has afterburners
- June 21, 2024: Roughriders’ Alford revels in return to receiving roots
- VIDEO: Aug. 3, 2024 post-game
- Aug. 7, 2024: Key blocks and starting blocks: Dissecting Mario Alford’s latest return TD
- Feb. 5, 2025: Alford re-ups with Riders
- Feb. 27, 2025: Alford “excited” to sign new contract
- June 7, 2025: Saluting Saskatchewan’s season-opening standouts
- June 11, 2025: Many happy returns for Mario Alford
- June 20, 2025: Mario Alford’s last-minute TD gives Riders 39-32 win
- June 21, 2025: “Mario” rhymes with “3-and-0”
- June 24, 2025: Effective wedge gave Riders an edge on game-winning kickoff return
- VIDEO: June 24, 2025 interview
- Aug. 27, 2025: “Everything is feeling good” for Mario Alford
- Oct. 14, 2025: Roughriders return records reachable for Alford, Campbell
Seasons
Receiving
| YEAR | TEAM | GP | TAR | REC | YDS | YAC | TD | AVG | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018
|
TOR | 6 | 13 | 7 | 57 | 34 | 0 | 8.1 | 23 |
|
2019
|
MTL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2021
|
MTL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14.0 | 14 |
|
2022
|
MTL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2023
|
SSK | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2024
|
SSK | 18 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6.0 | 6 |
|
2025
|
SSK | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2026
|
MTL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
Total
|
78 | 18 | 9 | 77 | 48 | 0 | 8.6 | 23 |
Rushing
| YEAR | TEAM | GP | CAR | YDS | TDS | AVG | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018
|
TOR | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10.0 | 10 |
|
2019
|
MTL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2021
|
MTL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2022
|
MTL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2023
|
SSK | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2024
|
SSK | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2025
|
SSK | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
2026
|
MTL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
Total
|
78 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10.0 | 10 |
Punt Returns
| YEAR | TEAM | GP | PR | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018
|
TOR | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1.4 | 4 | 0 |
|
2019
|
MTL | 3 | 9 | 218 | 24.2 | 90 | 2 |
|
2021
|
MTL | 5 | 17 | 268 | 15.8 | 86 | 1 |
|
2022
|
MTL | 13 | 44 | 530 | 12.0 | 104 | 1 |
|
2023
|
SSK | 18 | 88 | 978 | 11.1 | 107 | 3 |
|
2024
|
SSK | 18 | 79 | 801 | 10.1 | 46 | 0 |
|
2025
|
SSK | 11 | 44 | 476 | 10.8 | 35 | 0 |
|
2026
|
MTL | 4 | 20 | 226 | 11.3 | 34 | 0 |
|
Total
|
78 | 306 | 3504 | 11.5 | 107 | 7 |
Kickoff Returns
| YEAR | TEAM | GP | KOR | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018
|
TOR | 6 | 8 | 170 | 21.2 | 27 | 0 |
|
2019
|
MTL | 3 | 6 | 117 | 19.5 | 26 | 0 |
|
2021
|
MTL | 5 | 16 | 320 | 20.0 | 32 | 0 |
|
2022
|
MTL | 13 | 40 | 1030 | 25.8 | 98 | 2 |
|
2023
|
SSK | 18 | 51 | 1181 | 23.2 | 62 | 0 |
|
2024
|
SSK | 18 | 45 | 1077 | 23.9 | 101 | 1 |
|
2025
|
SSK | 11 | 31 | 876 | 28.3 | 99 | 1 |
|
2026
|
MTL | 4 | 14 | 293 | 20.9 | 37 | 0 |
|
Total
|
78 | 211 | 5064 | 24.0 | 101 | 4 |
Game Log
Game Participation Count
| Year | Team | Regular | Semi-Final | Final | Greycup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018
|
TOR | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
|
2019
|
MTL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
|
2021
|
MTL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
|
2022
|
SSK | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
|
2022
|
MTL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
2023
|
SSK | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
|
2024
|
SSK | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 |
|
2025
|
SSK | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
|
2026
|
MTL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Receiving
| DATE | WEEK | OPP | REC | ATT | YDS | TD | AVG | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
06-20
|
3 | EDM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
06-28
|
4 | OTT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
07-11
|
6 | CGY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
07-18
|
7 | CGY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
Total
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Rushing
| DATE | WEEK | OPP | CAR | YDS | TD | AVG | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
06-20
|
3 | EDM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
06-28
|
4 | OTT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
07-11
|
6 | CGY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
07-18
|
7 | CGY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
|
Total
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Punt Returns
| DATE | WEEK | OPP | PR | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
06-20
|
3 | EDM | 6 | 69 | 11.5 | 21 | 0 |
|
06-28
|
4 | OTT | 5 | 77 | 15.4 | 34 | 0 |
|
07-11
|
6 | CGY | 5 | 42 | 8.4 | 13 | 0 |
|
07-18
|
7 | CGY | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 19 | 0 |
|
Total
|
20 | 226 | 11.3 | 34 | 0 |
Kickoff Returns
| DATE | WEEK | OPP | KOR | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
06-20
|
3 | EDM | 3 | 69 | 23.0 | 37 | 0 |
|
06-28
|
4 | OTT | 5 | 135 | 27.0 | 31 | 0 |
|
07-11
|
6 | CGY | 4 | 71 | 17.8 | 22 | 0 |
|
07-18
|
7 | CGY | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 19 | 0 |
|
Total
|
14 | 293 | 20.9 | 37 | 0 |
Player Transactions
| DATE | TEAM | ACTION | STATUS |
|---|