A former star defensive back who got his start in the CFL with the Blue and Gold has signed a one-day contract with Winnipeg to retire as a Blue Bomber.

Jonathan Hefney has signed a one-day contract with the Bombers and announced his retirement from the CFL Tuesday.

Jonathan Hefney played for both the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes after playing four seasons with the Bombers. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) "Some of the greatest years for me happened with my teammates in Winnipeg and those amazing fans," Hefney said in a statement. "Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way, both in Winnipeg and everywhere else my football career took me. The Bomber organization will always be a big piece of me, and I'll always be a Bomber."

Hefney first signed with the Bombers in 2009 after brief stays with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions in the NFL.

Over four seasons with the Bombers, he racked up 241 defensive tackles and 13 special team tackles, the club said in a news release. He also had 13 interceptions, six fumble recoveries and two sacks and was named a division all-star in three of the his four years with Winnipeg.

"Jonathan Hefney played football with an extreme amount of passion and enthusiasm," Bombers general manager Kyle Walters said in the release.

"He was one of those players who was willing to do whatever it was going to take to win a football game and was an emotional leader not only in the locker room, but on the field. He loved the game and those types of players are the ones who make it great. We thank him for his contributions both on and off the field to our organization."

Hefney played for Calgary and Montreal after the Bombers, gathering a career total 311 defensive tackles and 24 special teams tackles, as well as 17 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries, the Bombers said.

Just before the 2013 training camp with the Bombers, Hefney was charged in the U.S. with possessing a small amount of marijuana.

Hefney is the second player in recent months to sign a single-day contract with plans to retire as a Bomber. Alex Suber signed a similar deal in January.