After a 3-11 season, the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League look to reconfigure their roster for the 2022 season. In one of the initial moves of the off-season, Edmonton management showed a commitment to one key piece of their global player department, extending the contract of Mexican receiver Diego Viamontes.
The 5’10,” 190-pound pass catcher only appeared in one game for the Elks this season and failed to record any statistics. Viamontes did, however, play in three games for the Elks in 2019 recording 44 yards on three kick returns. Edmonton initially acquired the Mexican talent with the first overall pick in the 2019 CFL-LFA draft.
Los pases pantalla deberían ser eternos. pic.twitter.com/6jL5CZr9bI
— Diego Viamontes (@JairViamontes) December 3, 2021
Viamontes, 31, came to Canada after an accomplished professional career in Mexico. As a rookie, he played for the Raptors Naucalpan during the inaugural season of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA) back in 2016. After two seasons with the Raptors, Viamontes was traded to the Mayas CDMX in Mexico City, where he put up 26 catches for 519 yards and seven touchdowns. Prior to turning pro, Viamontes was a standout player at Universidad del Valle de Mexico.
A proud countryman, Viamontes has represented Mexico on the international stage playing for the national team at the U19 IFAF Junior World Cup in Canton, Ohio, as well as at the 2011 and 2015 IFAF World Championships.
The global receiver now enters his third year in the CFL on a one-year deal with a team option for 2023. Viamontes hopes to make a home in Alberta on and off the field as he and his wife have opened a Mexican chocolate shop in Edmonton.