Ithaca College’s Derek Slywka excels in Canadian football

It was only a couple autumns ago that Derek Slywka starred for the Ithaca College football team. He flourished as a defensive back, leading the team with six interceptions and earning All-American honors. He has had quite the journey before and after his time on South Hill, and his latest stop takes him north of the border.

Slywka is in his first season playing for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Through the first seven games of 2025, Slywka had made a big impact on defense and special teams, recording 19 tackles and causing three turnovers.

His breakout game took place on June 29 against the Ottawa Redblacks. He first recovered a fumble and returned it 105 yards for a touchdown. Later on in the game, lightning struck twice with another long return for a score, taking a block field goal 120 yards to the house. That latter touchdown earned him a spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 Plays.

That night was made even more memorable for Slywka knowing that many of his closest supporters were there to see it live, including his family, Bombers head coach Mike Toerper, and former teammate Colin Norton.

“It was really cool,” Slywka said. “That’s one of those moments that I think that part of it was almost more special to me than the actual play, which was seeing their reactions and even celebrating with my teammates. That and winning the football game, kind of that whole perfect storm of it was really what I always remember.”

A more recent highlight-reel performance came on July 17 in Montreal. The Alouettes looked like they were on the way to scoring a go-ahead touchdown with their receiver racing towards the end zone. But Slywka had other ideas, chasing him down and punching the ball out just before Montreal crossed the goal line.

It’s certainly been an eventful past couple of years for Slywka since graduating from Ithaca College in 2024. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent and played in the preseason for them before being waived. That September, he signed with the Argonauts’ practice squad as they went on to win the Grey Cup, which is the CFL’s version of the Stanley Cup. During the offseason, he trained as a wide receiver before being switched back to being a defensive back. 

Through all the trials and tribulations, Slywka appreciates every moment he gets to continue playing the sport he loves.

“Just being able to play football and still getting to go do that every day, it’s something I’m really passionate about,” Slywka said. “I don’t take that for granted. A lot of the guys I played with don’t necessarily get the luxury of doing that. A lot of people don’t. So it’s something I’m always super grateful that I still get that opportunity. I’m always trying to find ways to take advantage of that opportunity, and also once you do have that opportunity, keeping it.”

Being on the sidelines in Vancouver for Toronto’s 19th Grey Cup victory—the most since its introduction in 1909—was eye-opening for Slywka in two ways. Not only did he witness just how passionate Canadians are for football, the experience also motivated him to make the active roster in 2025.

“I think in America, I don’t know if fans of football necessarily understand how popular the game is up here,” Slywaka said. “The media doesn’t necessarily talk about it as much, but there’s fans from teams that aren’t even playing in the Grey Cup everywhere in Vancouver. That was a really special, fun moment just to see the playoff atmosphere throughout the whole playoffs, even in Toronto at the home games we had at BMO Field. Those moments made me be like, ‘Okay, this offseason, I want to train because I want to be out there playing. I want to be a part of that.’”

Slywka’s sporting journey could easily be chronicled into a novel. Before Toronto, before Indianapolis, before Ithaca, it all began in small-town Waterloo where he played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He began his collegiate career at nearby Finger Lakes Community College… for basketball. But after just one season, he transferred to Ithaca College for football where he really made a name for himself.

As Slywka continues his one-of-a-kind athletic career in another country, he’s carried with him an elite level of consistency, work ethic, and discipline along the way.

“That’s really what I attribute my success to is that work ethic,” Slywka said. “Things don’t happen by accident. You got to try to take control of your own destiny. You can’t just drift through it and hopefully cross your fingers something happens. You got to [have a] short-term view of every day just trying to get better. And I think those little silent battles that you’re winning over other people that you’re not even realizing you’re winning, that’s really what adds up.”