Canadian Football League (CFL) linebacker Jayden Dalke died Saturday night in a car crash after driving the wrong way on a highway. He was 30 years old.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders captain was traveling on the highway with cannabis and alcohol in his vehicle at the time of the collision, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The crash also resulted in the death of the other driver, 22-year-old Bhishma Rajyaguru. Dalke was returning to Regina following the Roughriders’ bye week, during which he had visited his hometown of Leduc.
The RCMP reported receiving a call around 8:30 p.m. CST about a silver SUV leaving a gas station without paying for fuel. The same SUV was involved in the fatal crash approximately 30 minutes later.
Dalke was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the sixth round of the 2022 CFL Canadian Draft. He was part of the team that won the 2025 Grey Cup, the fifth championship in franchise history. Dalke also played college football for the University of Alberta.
Both the CFL and the Saskatchewan Roughriders issued statements mourning his loss. The league described Dalke as a "passionate competitor who played with incredible heart" and noted his "leadership in the locker room and his dedication to the community." The team called him a "relentless warrior on the field" whose "determination, toughness and work ethic inspired his teammates."