Jonathan Hefney
No. 33 | |
![]() Hefney while playing at Tennessee. | |
Born: | (1985-02-27) February 27, 1985 (age 39) Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S. |
---|---|
Career information | |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | Defensive Halfback |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
College | Tennessee |
High school | Rock Hill (Rock Hill, South Carolina) |
Career history | |
As player | |
2008 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
2008 | Philadelphia Eagles |
2009 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
2010 | Detroit Lions |
2010–2013 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
2013–2014 | Calgary Stampeders |
2015 | Montreal Alouettes |
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
CFL All-Star | 2009, 2011 |
CFL East All-Star | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
Honors | 2009 CFL's East Rookie of the Year |
Career stats | |
| |
Jonathan Jerrod Hefney (born February 27, 1985) is a former Canadian football defensive back. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Tennessee.
Hefney has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.
Early life
Hefney played high school football at Rock Hill High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He led his school to an undefeated record in 2002. Following his senior season, Hefney played at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.[1]
College career
Hefney was a four-year starter at either cornerback or safety during his time at Tennessee, starting every game except for the 2004 season opener against UNLV. Hefney also garnered attention as a punt return specialist.[1]
Professional career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hefney was expected to be selected early in the 2008 NFL draft[citation needed] but instead he went undrafted, and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[2] On July 25, 2008, he was released from the Buccaneers. Hefney was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on September 9, 2008.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Failing to make an NFL team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL signed Hefney on May 28, 2009.[3] He recorded 66 tackles and four interceptions his rookie season, earning Eastern Division Rookie of the Year and All-Star honors. However Hefney left the next year to play in the NFL again.
Detroit Lions
His time in the NFL that year was short however as Hefney was signed by the Detroit Lions on January 4, 2010, and released on September 4, 2010.[4] He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 6, and released on September 23.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (II)
He returned to the Blue Bombers four days after being released by the Detroit Lions.[5] The 2011 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season saw Hefney as part of the self-titled "Swaggerville" defence that was arguably tops in the league. That season, Hefney won his second nod as a CFL East Division all-star, and was then named to his second CFL All-Star team a short time later.[6][7] Hefney was named a CFL East Division all-star again in 2012. Just prior to the start of June 2013 training camp, Hefney was charged with marijuana possession in his home state of South Carolina. He was released by the Bombers on June 15, 2013. Hefney played three full seasons and parts of a fourth with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Calgary Stampeders
On June 18, 2013, 3 days after being released by Winnipeg, Hefney signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League[8] He was released by the Stampeders on May 21, 2014.[9]
Statistics
Regular season | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Tackles | Stt | Sacks | Int | Yards | Long | TD | Fumbles | Yards | Long | TD | |||
2009 | WPG | 66 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2010 | WPG | 25 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2011 | WPG | 76 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 0 | |||
2012 | WPG | 74 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
CFL totals | 241 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 20 | 11 | 0 |
Personal life
In September 2019 Hefney was sentenced to nine years in jail for trafficking cocaine.[10]
References
- ^ a b UT Sports Information (September 7, 2007). "Jonathan Hefney #33". UTSports.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ^ NFLDraftScout.com (September 7, 2007). "Jonathan Hefney, CB, Tennessee". NFL Draft Scout.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ^ "BOMBERS GIVE PERRY CONTRACT EXTENSION, SIGN TWO IMPORTS". The Canadian Press. TSN.ca. May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
- ^ Zaroo, Philip (January 5, 2010). "Detroit Lions sign Jonathan Hefney, of CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers". MLive. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "680 CJOB – Winnipeg's News & Information Leader".
- ^ Adam Wazny (November 10, 2011). "Eight Bombers named to East Division All-Star Team". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ Paul Wiecek (November 16, 2011). "Five Bombers chosen as CFL all-stars". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ Signs with Stamps
- ^ "Transactions – 2014". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ^ "Former CFLer Jonathan Hefney sentenced to nine years in jail for trafficking cocaine | 3DownNation". 3DownNation. September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
External links
- Jonathan Hefney on X
- Tennessee Volunteers bio