The Edmonton Elks have enlisted the expertise of veteran defensive tackle Almondo Sewell as a guest coach for their upcoming training camp, as announced by the team on Thursday.
Sewell, who spent the initial nine seasons of his illustrious career with the Green and Gold, played a pivotal role in the team’s Grey Cup triumph in 2015. During his tenure with the club, he garnered recognition as a West Division all-star on seven occasions and received league accolades six times.
A product of Akron University, Sewell departed the Elks ahead of the 2021 season and has since contributed three seasons to the Montreal Alouettes, clinching his second Grey Cup victory last November. With 334 defensive tackles and 69 quarterback sacks in 185 CFL games, he has consistently showcased his prowess on the field, earning six league all-star distinctions.
Despite having one year remaining on his contract, the 37-year-old was released by the Alouettes in February and has yet to secure a new team. While he has not formally announced his retirement, it seems he is transitioning towards his post-playing career, starting in the city where he initially embraced the Canadian football landscape.
Maintaining Edmonton as his offseason residence during his tenure in Montreal, Sewell has previously expressed interest in joining the Edmonton Police Service post-retirement. However, he will now embark on a coaching endeavor for at least the next four weeks.
The Elks are slated to kick off their 2024 regular season by hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, June 8th.
