Anthony Orange, previously named A. J. Jefferson (born April 4, 1988), is a

Canadian football Canadian football () is a team sport, sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's sco ...

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

who is currently a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

Fresno State California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bachelo ...

. He was signed as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

by the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...

in 2010.

Early life and college career

Orange was born and raised in

Bakersfield, California Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's populat ...

and graduated from West High School of Bakersfield in 2006. He began playing football at an early age but didn't play his junior year of high school. He played wide receiver and defensive back and earned first-team all-area selection as defensive back. Orange was a high school teammate of Ryan Mathews. Orange then attended

California State University, Fresno California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bachelo ...

. From 2006 to 2009, He played four seasons on the

Fresno State Bulldogs football The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football as a member of the Mountain West Conference. The green "V" on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, and playing field symboli ...

team.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Orange was invited to the 2010 Scouting Combine and was predicted as a 4th to 5th round draft pick.

Arizona Cardinals

On April 27, 2010, the

signed 10 players, one of whom was the undrafted Orange.

Minnesota Vikings

On August 31, 2012, the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...

traded for Orange with the Cardinals for an undisclosed number of draft picks. This trade was later finalized with Arizona receiving one 6th round pick in the

2013 NFL Draft The 2013 NFL Draft was the 78th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft, which is officially called the "NFL Player Selection Meeting", was held at Radio City Music Hall in ...

(Tennessee's by way of Minnesota) in return for Orange and Arizona's 7th Round pick in 2013.

Seattle Seahawks

Orange signed with the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

on May 2, 2014. The Seahawks placed him on injured reserve on August 26, 2014.

Toronto Argonauts

Orange signed with the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

(CFL) on May 26, 2015. In two seasons with the Argos he played in 30 games and accumulated 91 defensive tackles, 6 interceptions, 5 special teams tackles and 2 touchdowns. 1 being a punt return against the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...

. Following the 2016 season he was not re-signed by the Argonauts, rendering him a

free-agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

Ottawa Redblacks

On February 14, 2017, the first day of CFL free agency, Orange signed with the

Ottawa Redblacks The Ottawa Redblacks (officially stylized as REDBLACKS) ( French: Le Rouge et Noir d'Ottawa) are a professional Canadian football team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The team plays in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Startin ...

(CFL). He was released by the club only 3 games into the 2017 season.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Orange signed with the

Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded in 1 ...

(CFL) on July 18, 2017. He was released without playing a game on September 11, 2017.

Edmonton Eskimos

Following multiple injuries in their defensive secondary, the

Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...

signed Orange on September 13, 2017.

BC Lions

Orange signed with the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first season ...

on February 13, 2018, to a one-year contract. After a rough start to the season, including a 3–6 record and Orange committing a poorly timed penalty contributing to a loss, Orange stepped up his play, recording a career high in tackles, as well as interceptions with 5. The Lions finished the year by going 6–3, making the playoffs, and Orange was given both divisional and league All-Star recognition.

Edmonton Eskimos (II)

Upon reaching free agency, Orange returned to Edmonton for the 2019 season, one of numerous marquee free agents to sign in Edmonton. He was released on February 1, 2020.

NFL statistics

Domestic Violence

In November 2013, Orange was arrested for felony domestic assault by strangulation. Police were called to his home early in the morning after Orange reportedly strangled his girlfriend and subsequently threw her on the floor while yelling that she had ignored his text messages. Orange pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic assault and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, reduced to 3 days time served. Orange was released by the Minnesota Vikings on the day of his arrest but was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in May 2014 following his guilty plea.

References

External links

Fresno State Bulldogs bio

Minnesota Vikings bio

Arizona Cardinals bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orange, Anthony 1988 births Living people American football cornerbacks Canadian football defensive backs African-American players of American football African-American players of Canadian football Fresno State Bulldogs football players Arizona Cardinals players Minnesota Vikings players Seattle Seahawks players Toronto Argonauts players Ottawa Redblacks players Saskatchewan Roughriders players Edmonton Elks players BC Lions players Players of American football from Bakersfield, California 21st-century African-American sportspeople 20th-century African-American people