REGINA -- Punter Jon Ryan has returned home.
The 37-year-old Regina native signed a one-year deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday. The six-foot, 217-pound Ryan returns to the CFL following 12 seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
The Riders also announced that national punter Josh Bartel, a former Australian Rules Football player, was released after four seasons with the club.
Ryan began his pro football career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-05) before joining the Packers (2006-07). Ryan then spent 10 seasons in Seattle (2008-17) before being released.
He then signed with the Buffalo Bills but was released, and didn't play at all last season.
Ryan appeared in 191 career NFL games, registering a 44.7-yard punting average and 38.7-yard net average. He became the first Saskatchewan native to win a Super Bowl when Seattle dispatched the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Feb, 2, 2014.
He also became the first punter to throw a touchdown pass in an NFL playoff game, and first Canadian to do so since Washington quarterback Mark Rypien in 1993, when he hit backup tackle Garry Gilliam on a fake field goal during Seattle's 28-22 win over Green Bay in the 2015 NFC title game.
Ryan remains the Seahawks all-time leader in punts (770), gross average punts (44.9 yards) and net average (40.8 yards).
