Cleyon Laing (born November 21, 1990) is a Canadian professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

defensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line (D ...

for the

Ottawa Redblacks The Ottawa Redblacks (officially stylized as REDBLACKS) (Canadian French, French: ) are a professional Canadian football team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The team plays in the East Division (CFL), East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He was selected ninth overall by the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

in the 2012 CFL Draft. Laing is a four-time CFL East Division All-Star and a two-time

Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...

champion, having won with Ottawa in

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

and then with Toronto in

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

with the Iowa State Cyclones.

Professional career

Toronto Argonauts (first stint)

Laing was selected ninth overall in the 2012 CFL Draft by the

, but finished his college eligibility before signing with the team on May 15, 2013. He played for the Argonauts for three seasons finishing his stint with 72 tackles, 16 sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety. After his strong performance in the CFL, including CFL East All-Star honours in 2015, Laing drew the attention of NFL teams.

Miami Dolphins

On February 29, 2016, Laing was signed by the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

of the NFL. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Dolphins as part of final roster cuts. The next day he was signed to the Dolphins' practice squad. He was released on October 31, 2016.

Ottawa Redblacks (first stint)

Only three days after his release from the Dolphins practice roster, he was signed by the

of the

; just days before their final game of the regular season. Laing appeared in one regular season game with the Redblacks, as well as two post season games which included their Grey Cup victory over the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...

Toronto Argonauts (second stint)

On April 29, 2017, Laing signed with the Argonauts. Despite missing time with an injury, Laing recorded five sacks and a forced fumble during 11 regular season games played in 2017, and was named a CFL East All-Star for the second time. During the playoffs, Laing recorded the first sack of the

105th Grey Cup The 105th Grey Cup was played on November 26, 2017, between the Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argonauts at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. In a re-match of the 100th Grey Cup, the Argonauts won the game 27–24, winning their 17th cham ...

as part of a 27–24 Argonauts victory over Calgary. It was his second consecutive Grey Cup championship. Laing signed a two-year extension with Toronto the following January, and had a quick start to the 2018 season with three sacks in the first four games. Although the Argos missed the playoffs with a 4–14 record, Laing played in all 18 games, racking up 44 tackles and six sacks, and was named to his third CFL East All-Star team. Laing was also the team nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. The 2019 season was similar for both Laing and the team; the team played poorly to start the year and missed the playoffs. Meanwhile, Laing, who had another effective stretch of early season games in which he earned four sacks over three outings, won the Toronto award for Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second consecutive year; he was additionally named Toronto's Most Outstanding Canadian Player. Laing was also named to his third consecutive Eastern All-Star team, the only member of Toronto's defense to be so honored.

Ottawa Redblacks (second stint)

Upon entering free agency, Laing signed a three-year contract with the Redblacks on February 11, 2020. Ottawa restructured the deal with Laing for 2021 following a cancelled 2020 season, a shortened season where Laing played 13 out of 14 possible games, putting up 25 tackles and three sacks. On Jan 14, 2025, Laing and the Redblacks agreed to a contract extension through 2026.

Personal life

Laing's biological older brother is Canadian actor and model Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. His biological father is of Jamaican descent.

References

External links

Ottawa Redblacks bio
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Laing, Cleyon 1990 births Canadian football defensive linemen American football defensive linemen Iowa State Cyclones football players Living people Players of Canadian football from Alberta Canadian football people from Edmonton Canadian sportspeople of Jamaican descent Toronto Argonauts players Miami Dolphins players Ottawa Redblacks players Black Canadian players of American football Canadian players of American football Black Canadian sportsmen Players of American football from Alberta