Darnell Sankey seeks second football title of 2023

Darnell Sankey is looking to add one more championship to his 2023 year.

The Montreal Alouettes linebacker will suit up to play in Sunday’s Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Kickoff for the CFL championship game at Tim Hortons Field is set for 5 p.m.

Sankey was a member of the XFL’s Arlington Renegades, who won the 2023 XFL Championship on May 13, 2023.

“It’s a blessing. I’m incredibly thankful and I am just happy to be here.”

Prior to the recent championship success, Sankey was a member of the 2022 Saskatchewan Roughriders. After a year where he had 120 tackles and was named the team’s most outstanding player and defensive player, he elected to leave in the offseason for the XFL.

“I have nothing but love for Rider Nation. I did love it there – there was a lot of other factors that didn’t get said and it’s not my place to say. I’m not messy, I’m a pro. I’m not going to air out dirty laundry but there was other factors at play. I understand the frustration but fans have to understand we have to do what’s best for us,” Sankey said. “It didn’t have anything to do with Riderville. There was some things that went down that I’m sure people are somewhat aware of but there was a lot that wasn’t being said. I made a decision and I went with it.

“There’s just so much that people don’t know and understand about the business – which you shouldn’t if you’re not really in it. When you look at it from the outside in, you’re like, ‘Why would Sankey leave?’ but if only you knew.”

There was some things that were going on that I just decided it wasn’t for me anymore.”

That 2022 Riders team has a number of members from it that are now playing for the Grey Cup for Montreal, including Sankey, quarterback Cody Fajardo, fullback James Tuck, and head coach Jason Maas.

But things have worked out for the 29-year-old, who had multiple CFL teams reaching out to him once he was released from his contract in August.

“There was enough to have a nice, lengthy conversation with my agent and my family to decide where I wanted to play,” Sankey said.

He ultimately signed with Montreal due to the existing relationships he has with some other former teammates on the Als.

“I was familiar with Shawn Lemon, Cody Fajardo, coach Maas and I have been watching the games and I have been keeping up with the CFL. I didn’t know much about coach (Noel) Thorpe but I was learning about him and I had started learning about him,” Sankey said. “When I started talking to Danny (Maciocia), he really just got me to buy into what they were doing. I saw there was a need and he made it known. It just came down to saying a prayer and then going with my gut.”

Sankey has also praised the work Maas has done as the head coach this season.

“He’s such an energetic dude. He’s very personable. As the OC, you kind of have to take a backseat to the head coach … I think him being a head coach, he can do things how he wants with his schedule and he runs the meetings how he wants. I’ve got no complaints about it – he’s not only a good coach but a good man. He treats us all like men and I think that’s very respected,” Sankey said.

He also believes Fajardo took on more of the blame than warranted for how 2022 ended.

“I don’t think people understand how much Cody has grown – and I wouldn’t even say grown – he has taken a lot of heat for the Saskatchewan thing. I guess I understand because you’re the quarterback so by default you’re going to take a lot of the rap and I think he understands that too,” Sankey said. “I don’t think people understand how much hours and dedication he has put in. He’s up and at the facility at 6 a.m. every day watching film. He never talks about it and never really hypes himself up. If people only knew what he does to elevate his game, I think it would really change a lot of people’s opinions.”

Now heading into the CFL’s championship game, Sankey and the Als defence have a tough task ahead of them.

The Bombers’ offense comes into the game after scoring a CFL-high 594 points (33 per game) with 2,503 rushing yards (first in the CFL) and 5,263 yards in the air (second-most).

Sankey knows it’s going to come down to a battle of wills on the football field.

“We put our will. They want to put their will and we are going to put our will. It’s going to be a battle of who brings it and I know we’re going to bring it.”