Lions' Lokombo retires after 10 CFL seasons
Published
VANCOUVER — Bo Lokombo is calling it a career.
The B.C. Lions veteran Canadian linebacker announced his retirement Tuesday. The six-foot-one, 230-pound Lokombo had 30 tackles, one special-teams tackle, three sacks and a forced fumble in 14 regular-season games in 2024.
"At 34 years old, I felt it was the right time," Lokombo said in a statement released by the Lions. "I want to be closer to my family.
"The only thing I’m going to miss is competing with my brothers for a championship. I will be cheering on the guys, supporting not only the Lions but the CFL as a whole.”
The Lions also re-signed Canadian linebacker Isaiah Messam, who was eligible for free agency Feb. 11.
B.C. drafted Lokombo in the third round, 21st overall, in the 2013 CFL draft but he returned to play at Oregon that season. He signed with the Lions in September 2014.
He played eight of his nine CFL seasons with B.C. (2014-16, 2018, 2021-24). He was with Montreal in 2019 after spending time in the NFL with Baltimore, Oakland and San Francisco.
Lokombo was dealt to Toronto in 2020 but the CFL didn't play that year due to the Global pandemic. The Argos released Lokombo in January 2021.
He appeared in 129 career CFL regular-season games, recording 370 tackles, 92 special-teams tackles, 17 sacks, eight interceptions and four forced fumbles. He also scored a defensive touchdown.
Lokombo stands 11th on B.C.'s all-time list with 319 tackles.
The six-foot, 220-pound Messam registered give special-teams tackles in 14 regular-season games in 2024. Messam has appeared in 82 career regular-season games over six seasons with B.C., recording 38 tackles, 52 special-teams tackles and a sack.