Wesley Bailey knows his life is about to change.
After years of development, sacrifice, and steady progression, the Ottawa native finds himself on the verge of the professional game, with football opportunities on both sides of the border.
For many players, the leadup to the NFL and CFL Drafts can be a stressful time, filled with combines, meetings, and general uncertainty about what comes next.
For Bailey, a star defensive lineman out of the University of Louisville, it’s something else entirely.
“It’s exciting,” Bailey said. “You don’t necessarily know. You could end up anywhere. You just embrace it and keep working.”
At 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, Bailey’s speed, power and compete level have him on several NFL teams’ radar, and leading into the CFL Draft, he was expected to go in the first or second round.
Bailey’s football road to the pros began in Orleans, playing in the early days as a receiver and running back with the Cumberland Panthers. Over time, as his frame developed and his skill set evolved, he transitioned to the defensive line and eventually made his way to college ball, first at Rutgers, then last season at Louisville.
His years of training, like so many of this city’s elite young pro football prospects, included Ottawa’s Gridiron Academy under the tutelage of owner and coach Victor Tedondo.
But it’s his family backstory, long before football was on his radar, that makes his achievements all the more remarkable.
Bailey grew up with his three sisters, Shanel and Shanti, and his twin sister, Wesley-Ann. His mom had moved here from Jamaica, and in the early days for the family, Bailey said things were challenging with 12 people living in a two bedroom apartment.
But those early challenges were only part of the story. Tragically, when Bailey was just 5, his mom was killed while visiting family back home in Jamaica.
In the years that followed, as Bailey grew old enough to realize the full scope of her absence, he was able to lean on his sisters and extended family for love and support. Today, that foundation remains a big part of everything he does, even when he’s on the field.
Every time he gets a sack now, he honours them during his celebration, holding up his hands over his head in the shape of a heart. It’s his way of thanking the people who helped him reach this point, including the mother he lost.
“Everything I do is for them,” Bailey said. “Every time I go to work or step on that field, I always give a tribute to them to say I appreciate them, because there’s different people in my life that made sacrifices for me. And so anytime I’m tired or feel like quitting, it’s like you don’t have that choice.
“Because you’ve come too far, and overcome too much.”
In this Q and A, Wesley Bailey looks back on life in football, growing up in Ottawa, and the next chapter.
Tell us about growing up in Ottawa and what you enjoy about the city.
I grew up on the east side of Ottawa, an Orleans kid, and I’d say I love the food selection we have because Ottawa is a diverse city. We have so many different cultures, whether it’s Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian, Lebanese, Japanese, whatever type of food you wanna get into.
What have you been doing since your season at Louisville ended?
We had to go to the combine and pro day training. So me and one of my Louisville teammates, Rene Konga, who’s also from Ottawa, went to Orlando and did combine training and positional work. And then we had pro days, March 16th, did well there, stayed there for a little bit, worked out, trained, and then came back here to Ottawa.
How were you feeling about either being drafted or signing with an NFL team?
Excited. One thing about this process? You never know. At the end of the day, you can either be drafted or become an undrafted free agent. So I’m excited to know where I’ll be in a couple weeks, I could be in LA, or could be in Florida, could be in Denver. So I’m just embracing the process.
Tell us about your early days in football. What position did you play at first?
I played for the Cumberland Panthers most of my life, from about grade five and on. And most of the time I was either a receiver or a running back. I obviously had a lot of fun playing receiver and going for touchdowns.
When did you move to the defensive line?
When I started taking football more seriously, I started training with Coach Victor Tedondo at Gridiron Academy. He felt like it’d be the best move to go from the offensive side to the defensive side and play D-line.
What is Tedondo’s secret formula for helping develop so many elite football prospects?
That’s a great question. He’s a great person, a personable guy. And he also has a great mindset when it comes to attacking things. He takes the time to instill that into kids at a young age, guys like me and Akheem Mesidor (drafted 22nd overall by the LA Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft).
As a kid, you don’t wanna do all this extra work, you don’t wanna do all those extra sprints, or you don’t wanna be overly exhausted, because you don’t necessarily know how to work yet, and that’s okay. But he takes the time to get you over that hump and turn you into a hard worker. And a shout out to him because he took the time to drive guys across the border to different northern states, whether it’s Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey just to get exposure.
What league did you follow growing up, NFL or CFL?
Yeah, so funny enough, I didn’t actually watch that much sports growing up.I didn’t watch NFL, I played Madden, I played football on PlayStation, and I would use guys like Calvin Johnson. But I wouldn’t say I watched too much NFL or CFL growing up. Maybe the Super Bowl here and there.
So how did the football attraction start in the first place?
Yeah, so with my mom, I was playing baseball a little bit. But at the time, I didn’t know when you’re on base, you can’t run past other people. So as a little kid, I kept doing that, so we switched sports and I started playing soccer. I didn’t like soccer as much. I love soccer now. I don’t play it, but I love soccer now. But back then, it didn’t work out, so I tried football and stayed with it.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
I would say, on the field, have the next play mentality. And it’s something so simple, but in this game of football, it’s a long game. Games can be three and a half hours. You can make a really good play, but if you get full of yourself and you think that you’re this and that, you’ll get humbled.
There’s gonna be plays where you get put in the dirt, flat on your back. Next play, next play, just having that ability to stay in the moment is a huge thing in football. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low, because anything can happen in a football game and all it takes is one play.
And then off the field, I would say just making sure you’re consistent, having enough sacrifices, because everyone is guaranteed the same 1,440 minutes in a day. What are you gonna do with them? What are you willing to do with the time that’s given to you?
After four years at Rutgers and a final season at Louisville, the next chapter is here for Wesley Bailey. And if his approach to this point is any indication, it’s pretty clear that none of his minutes will ever go to waste.
Wesley’s World: Top Five
Favourite music?
My favourite artist is Rod Wave, but he’s been lacking lately. Maybe even two years, but he’s my favourite artist for sure. Currently, a guy named Hurricane Wisdom, he’s from Florida. And if you ever had the free time, and want to tap into new music, definitely tap into Hurricane Wisdom.
What about TV shows?
Game of Thrones. I’m currently watching House of Dragons, but a lot of my friends say that Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is insane.
If they made a movie of your life, what actor do you choose to play you?
Damson Idris.
Game day superstitions?
I FaceTime my sister before every game.
Favourite food that you know isn’t good for you?
Apple pie with vanilla ice cream. That’s gonna hit every time.
