Words by Daniella Ponticelli
Pete Robertson is proud to say he’s made in Texas.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end was born, raised and trained in the city of Longview, which has a population of around 82,000.
“My area in Texas, we produce machines,” he said. “It’s how we take the game of football and take it to another level. Truly live and breathe football.”
The 29-year-old credits God and that Texan mentality for his resilience to return to Saskatchewan’s defensive line Friday against B.C.
“Some guys, they get an injury, and it brings them down. I feel like with an injury, for me, it brings me up. It lit a fire under me, especially how it happened,” he said.
Robertson was hit by Ottawa Redblacks offensive tackle Dino Boyd, who was penalized 15 yards and later fined for unnecessary roughness following the play, at Mosaic Stadium on July 8. Saskatchewan beat the Ottawa Redblacks 28-13.
Despite missing four games while recovering from a severely sprained foot, the six-foot-two Robertson remains a CFL leader with seven quarterback sacks through five games.
Teammate Anthony Lanier II also has seven sacks, through nine games, and Ottawa’s Lorenzo Mauldin has seven sacks through eight games.
Robertson signed with the Riders in 2020 and dressed for 11 games the following year. He recorded 10 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles and five sacks in 2021.
The Texan machine previously spent four seasons in the NFL as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team and Arizona Cardinals.
It was during his time in Washington that Robertson first connected with Anthony Lanier II. 2022 marks their fourth pro football season as teammates and while their bond is tight, Robertson can’t pinpoint who he’s closest to on the Riders.
“I speak to everybody. I either find a way to make you laugh or, a lot of guys I’ve met, I gave them nicknames,” he said. “Like Jeremy Clark, our cornerback, last year I started calling him Scooter.”
The inspiration, Robertson claims, comes from his observations on the field and seeing how guys move once they tire in practice. Meanwhile, some of his teammates have taken to calling him “Texas Pete,” in reference to the popular brand of hot sauce.
“Every guy that’s in that locker room, I try to build some kind of bond with. Because at the end of the day, when we are out there battling, I don’t want to just know your name. I want to know you,” he said.
Robertson made a special point to address his teammate Garrett Marino, who is returning to the roster Friday after serving a four-game suspension stemming from actions in the same game Robertson was injured.
Robertson said he and Marino have had one-on-one conversations and share the same desire to keep their personal lives off social media.
“During the break when I was at home (in Texas), we FaceTimed, he saw my kids. We talked, we have common goals,” Robertson said. “I think this offseason, me and my family are going to head to (California) to see him.”
Family is everything to Robertson, who has a one-year-old son, six-year-old daughter and eight-year-old stepdaughter. He also dedicates time to his nieces and nephews, along with the young kids in his hometown.
“I actually coach as well, a lot of people don’t know that. I help out with the D lineman,” Robertson said, adding that he was mentoring during his bye week in Longview. “I just love being around the kids, I just love them all.”
Tragically, just days after returning to Saskatchewan, Robertson learned about the death of an incoming Longview freshman he had coached.
According to local news reports, 14-year-old Rahsaan Jefferson was killed in a shooting at an apartment complex on Aug. 8, 2022. Jefferson was known to his teammates and friends as “Bobo.”
“He was an amazing player. Everybody on the team loved him,” Robertson said. “It’s just sad because the last moments I seen him, we was just talking and laughing.”
Robertson said he has a shirt, representing Bobo, that he will wear under his game pads. In preparation for his regular-season return, his message to Rider Nation is one of gratitude and motivation.
“Thank you for all your amazing support. As soon as I got here last year, I fell in love with you guys,” he said. “It’s a long season and we are going to pull it together.”
Riders defensive lineman A.C. Leonard also returns to the lineup this week after a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-4) host the BC Lions (7-1) at Mosaic Stadium Friday night. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. Sask. time.
