{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox CFL biography | name = Ryder Varga | team = Saskatchewan Roughriders | image = 2025, 42, Ryder Varga.jpg | image_upright = 1 | caption = Varga with the Toronto Argonauts in 2025 | status = Active | import = no | position1 = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|4|30}} | birth_place = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | number = | CIS = Regina | high_school = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 230 | CFLDraftedYear = 2022 | CFLDraftedRound = 3 | CFLDraftedPick = 29 | playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2022}} <!---Offseason member only, returned to play for Regina in 2022---> | playing_team1 = BC Lions* | playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2023|2024}} | playing_team2 = BC Lions | playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2025}} | playing_team3 = Toronto Argonauts | playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2026}}–present | playing_team4 = Saskatchewan Roughriders | career_highlights = * First-team All-Canadian (2022) | CFL = ryder-varga/ }}
'''Ryder Varga''' (born April 30, 1999) is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
==University career== Varga played U Sports football for the Regina Rams from 2017 to 2022.<ref name=Regina>{{cite web|url=https://www.reginarams.com/sports/football/roster/ryder-varga/4537 |title=Ryder Varga |publisher=Regina Rams |access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref><ref name=BCbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/players/ryder-varga/ |title=Ryder Varga |publisher=BC Lions |access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> He played in 32 games where he had 157 total tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles.<ref name=BCre-sign>{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2022/11/28/b-c-lions-sign-regina-rams-standout-ryder-varga-five-other-canadians/ |title=B.C. Lions sign Regina Rams standout Ryder Varga, four other Canadians |publisher=3DownNation |date=November 28, 2022}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===BC Lions=== Varga was drafted in the third round, 29th overall, by the BC Lions in the 2022 CFL draft and signed with the team on May 11, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2022/05/11/lions-sign-seven-members-of-2022-cfl-draft-class/ |title=Lions Sign Seven Members Of 2022 CFL Draft Class |publisher=BC Lions |date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> However, following training camp, he returned to Regina for his final year of eligibility.
Varga re-signed with the Lions on November 28, 2022.<ref name=BCre-sign/> He made the team following training camp in 2023 and played in the team's season opening game on June 8, 2023, against the Calgary Stampeders.<ref name=2023Notes>{{cite web|url=https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/2023_CFL_Gm_Notes_85_BC_vs_Cgy.pdf |title=Game Notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=October 31, 2023}}</ref> He played in all 18 regular season games where he had nine defensive tackles, 13 special teams tackles, and one quarterback sack.<ref name=BCbio/> In 2024, Varga played in 18 regular season games where he had 73 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, and one sack.<ref name=BCbio/>
===Toronto Argonauts=== On January 6, 2025, Varga was traded with a 2026 CFL draft pick to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Dejon Allen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/06/lions-acquire-ol-dejon-allen-in-trade-with-argonauts/ |title=Lions acquire OL Dejon Allen in trade with Argonauts |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 6, 2025}}</ref> He played in 13 regular season games where he recorded 10 special teams tackles. He was released shortly before the start of training camp in the following offseason on April 29, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/2026/ |title=Transactions – Football Player Trades and Signings |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=May 3, 2026}}</ref>
===Saskatchewan Roughriders=== On May 6, 2026, it was announced that Varga had signed a two-year contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2026/05/06/riders-sign-national-linebacker-ryder-varga/ |title=Riders sign National linebacker Ryder Varga |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=May 5, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.riderville.com/players/ryder-varga/ Saskatchewan Roughriders bio] *{{commonscatinline}}
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varga, Ryder}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:BC Lions players Category:Canadian football linebackers Category:Canadian football people from Regina, Saskatchewan Category:Regina Rams players Category:Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players Category:Toronto Argonauts players