WINNIPEG — January 12, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers released national defensive end Jonathan Kongbo in order to allow him to pursue an NFL agreement. That same day he signed a deal with the Denver Broncos.

Kongbo (6’5, 266lbs) completed his amateur career at the University of Tennessee and his professional career in the National Football league with the San Francisco 49ers and the Canadian Football League as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

At Tennessee, Kongbo appeared in 30 games over three seasons and made 51 total tackles for the Volunteers, including five and a half sacks for loss. He also had three and a half sacks, two interceptions, two passes deflected, and one defensive touchdown before suffering a season-ending injury during his senior season in 2018.

In Kongbos’ first two seasons in blue and gold, he appeared in 38 games(2 starts) where he recorded 28 tackles and four sacks. 

In between the 2019 and 2021 seasons when the CFL was shut down due to the pandemic Kongbo played with the San Francisco 49ers on a reserve/futures deal but landed on their injured list in August.