27-05-2025
Roughriders' Jaxon Ford eager to showcase 'new me' with new number
Jaxon Ford's new jersey number comes with a new identity.
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'Smarter, more aggressive,' said the Saskatchewan Roughriders third-year defensive back. 'New number, new me.'
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After wearing No. 17 for his first two CFL seasons, Ford was approached this off-season by quarterback Tommy Stevens about giving up No. 17.
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Considering Jaxon's grandfather Alan Ford wore No. 21 when he played for the Roughriders from 1965-76, the proud grandson was amendable to making a change if he could get No. 21, which was also a number he wore with the University of Regina Rams.
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Ford just needed to convince safety Nelson Lokombo to move from No. 21 to No. 25, which was Lokombo's old number with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
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'Tommy texted me and I forget what number they were going to give him, but he wasn't satisfied with it,' said Ford. 'He wanted 17 and he knew that I wanted 21 and so we both kind of persuaded Nelson, and he knew 25 was open.
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'So it worked out and everyone got the number that they wanted.
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'It means a lot not only to me but to the whole family. I remember when I told (my grandfather), he was very emotional about it. Me too.'
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In his first game sporting his new number, Ford drew the start at safety for the injured Lokombo during Saskatchewan's 15-9 pre-season loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday and had four tackles including two tremendous open-field tackles in the first quarter.
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'We should have changed his number maybe a couple years ago,' chuckled head coach Corey Mace. 'I didn't have the pleasure to watch Al out there (but) if he was anything like that … Jaxon looked like a different guy.
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'He's kind of set the new bar for himself, and that's the expectations that now we all expect from him.'
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After being drafted in the second round by the Riders in 2023, Ford played 15 games in his rookie season, racking up 12 tackles and five special teams tackles, before undergoing off-season wrist surgery.
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His recovery forced him to sit out training camp last year before missing the first 12 games of the season. The 24-year-old Regina product was finally able to return in Week 14, racking up two special teams tackles in the final six games.
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This season, with a full training camp under his belt in his third season, the 6-foot-0, 210-pounder is hoping to take advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
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'It feels great being healthy and getting a full camp,' Ford said ahead of Saskatchewan's second and final pre-season game on Friday (7 p.m., CFL+) at Mosaic Stadium against the Blue Bombers. 'Being able to learn the defence and be out there and actually play, it feels great.
