| Ottawa Redblacks | |
 Adeleke with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 | |
| Born: | (1995-07-12)July 12, 1995 (age 29) Lagos, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| Status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 208 lb (94 kg) |
| University | Carleton |
| High school | St. Francis Xavier |
| CFL draft | 2017, round: 3, pick: 25 |
| Drafted by | Calgary Stampeders |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2017–2018 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 2019–2023 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2024 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 2025–present | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL All-Star | 2019 |
| CFL East All-Star | 2019,2021 |
| Career stats | |
| |
Tunde Adeleke (born July 12, 1995) is a Nigerian-Canadian professionalfootballdefensive back for theOttawa Redblacks of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He is a two-timeGrey Cup champion after winning with theCalgary Stampeders in2018 and with theToronto Argonauts in2024.
Adeleke was born inLagos, Nigeria, and grew up inOttawa, Ontario, Canada.[1]
Adeleke playedU Sports football for theCarleton Ravens from 2013 to 2016.[2] He played in 31 games where he recorded 155 tackles, three interceptions, one sack, and four forced fumbles.[2]
Adeleke was drafted by theCalgary Stampeders in the third round, 25th overall, in the2017 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 27, 2017.[3] He played for two seasons with the Stampeders and won his firstGrey Cup championship after the team's victory in the106th Grey Cup game.
Adeleke signed as a free agent with theHamilton Tiger-Cats on February 12, 2019.[4] In2019, he played in 18 regular season games, starting in 15, where he had 52 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, and two interceptions.[5] He was then named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career. He also played in both post-season games, including the107th Grey Cup, where he had six defensive tackles and one pass knockdown in the team's loss to theWinnipeg Blue Bombers.[5] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the2020 CFL season.[5]
In the2021 season, Adeleke played and started in 12 of 14 regular season games in a truncated season where he recorded 44 defensive tackles, six pass knockdowns, two sacks, and two interceptions.[5] He also played and started in all three of the team's post-season games where he recorded 16 defensive tackles and two pass knockdowns.[5] Adeleke played in his fourth consecutive Grey Cup game, but lost for the third time as the Blue Bombers defeated the Tiger-Cats 33–25 in overtime.[6]
Adeleke played and started in all 18 regular season games for the first time in his career in2022 where he recorded a career-high 68 defensive tackles and eight pass knockdowns along with two special teams tackles, one forced fumble, one sack, and one interception.[5] He also played in the team's East Semi-Final loss to theMontreal Alouettes where he had three defensive tackles and his first post-season interception.[5]
In2023, Adeleke sat out eight games due to injury, playing in ten, where he had 31 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, one pass knockdown, one forced fumble, and one fumble return.[5][7] He suffered a season-ending injury in week 14 and did not play in the team's playoff game.[2][5][7] He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 13, 2024.[8]
On February 13, 2024, it was announced that Adeleke had signed with theToronto Argonauts.[9] He began the season on the six-game injured list before being placed on the practice roster for the two subsequent games.[10] He then played in the last ten regular season games, including three starts, where he had 15 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one pass knockdown.[10] Adeleke started in all three post-season games, including the111th Grey Cup where he had two defensive tackles in the Argonauts' 41–24 victory over theWinnipeg Blue Bombers.[10][11] He became afree agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 11, 2025.[12][13]
On February 11, 2025, Adeleke signed a one-year contract with theOttawa Redblacks.[14]
Media related toTunde Adeleke at Wikimedia Commons