Dariusz Bladek

Dariusz Bladek
No. 65     Ottawa Redblacks
Bladek with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024
Born: (1994-04-01) April 1, 1994 (age 30)
Clifton, New Jersey, U.S.
Career information
StatusActive
CFL statusNational
Position(s)Offensive lineman
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight300 lb (140 kg)
CollegeBethune-Cookman
High schoolPoinciana High School
CFL draft2017, round: 2, pick: 11
Drafted bySaskatchewan Roughriders
Career history
As player
2017–2019Saskatchewan Roughriders
2020–2023Toronto Argonauts
2024–presentOttawa Redblacks
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Dariusz Bladek (born April 1, 1994) is a Canadian-American professional football offensive lineman for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a Grey Cup champion after winning with the Toronto Argonauts in 2022.

Early life

Bladek was born in Clifton, New Jersey, to his Canadian mother, Joyce, and Polish father, Bogdan.[1][2] He grew up in New Jersey and his family moved to Kissimmee, Florida, where he attended Poinciana High School.[3]

College career

Bladek played college football for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats from 2012 to 2015.[4]

Professional career

Pre-draft

After completing his third year of college eligibility in 2015, Bladek declared for the 2016 NFL draft.[3] After going unselected, he attended mini-camp with the Baltimore Ravens, but was not signed to a contract.[3] Through a conversation with the Calgary Stampeders, he learned that he could qualify as a National player because his mother was a Canadian citizen.[1][3] Due to the length of time that was required to apply for a Canadian passport, he had to bypass the 2016 CFL Draft and was eligible for the 2017 CFL Draft.[3]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Bladek was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second round, 11th overall, in the 2017 CFL Draft and signed with the club on May 26, 2017.[5] He made the team out of training camp and dressed in all 18 regular season games and two post-season games in his rookie year. His first professional game was on June 22, 2017, against the Montreal Alouettes. In the 2018 season, he earned his first career start, also against the Alouettes, on June 30, 2018.[6] He played in 16 regular season games in 2018 and 11 games in 2019.

Toronto Argonauts

Upon becoming a free agent, Bladek signed a contract with the Toronto Argonauts on February 11, 2020.[7] He signed a contract extension with the Argonauts on December 28, 2020.[8] In 2021, he played and started in 10 regular season games for the team and also started in the team's East Final loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that year.[9]

In the 2022 season, Bladek played and started in 17 regular season games and both post-season games, including the team's victory in the 109th Grey Cup, which was his first Grey Cup in.[9] He suffered an ankle injury in 2023, which caused him to miss the beginning of the season, but remained a healthy scratch to finish the year as the team finished with a 16–2 record.[10] As a pending free agent, Bladek was released on January 18, 2024.[10][11]

Ottawa Redblacks

On January 31, 2024, it was announced that Bladek had signed with the Ottawa Redblacks.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Roughriders Dariusz Bladek became a proud Canadian thanks to football". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 29, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "2015 Football Roster, Dariusz Bladek". Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "2017 CFL draft ends long, patient wait for offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek". Langley Advance Times. May 4, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Argos OL Jamal Campbell honoured with Toronto Urban Hero Award". Toronto Argonauts. September 19, 2017.
  5. ^ "Riders sign Bladek, five more from 2017 draft". cfl.ca. May 26, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "2018 Canadian Football League Game Notes, Saskatchewan at Winnipeg, Game 76" (PDF). cfl.ca. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "CFLFA: Argos ink national OL Dariusz Bladek". Toronto Argonauts. February 11, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "Bladek extension among 11 Argos transactions". CFL.ca. December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "2023 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Argos release Canadian OL Dariusz Bladek". 3DownNation. January 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Transactions – Football player trades and signings". Canadian Football League. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Redblacks sign national OL Dariusz Bladek". Ottawa Redblacks. January 31, 2024.
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