Montreal Alouettes running back James Wilder Jr. is retiring because of a lack of certainty surrounding the 2020 CFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports TSN's Dave Naylor.
Wilder will take a coaching job at Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa, which he attended, and run a fitness facility, according to Naylor.
Wilder spent three up-and-down seasons in the CFL, all with the Toronto Argonauts. After falling out of favor in Toronto last year, he requested his release and subsequently signed a one-year contract with the Alouettes.
A versatile weapon out of the backfield, Wilder topped 400 yards rushing and receiving in all three seasons with the Argonauts. He helped Toronto win a Grey Cup and was the Most Outstanding Rookie in 2017.
Before coming to Canada, the 28-year-old spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, though he never appeared in a regular-season game for either NFL club.
In college, Wilder won the 2014 BCS National Championship with Florida State. He was part of a team that was loaded with NFL talent, including eventual No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.
