Toronto Argonauts rookie James Wilder Jr. came off the biggest win of his professional career on Sunday.
The Argonauts defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Eastern Finals to advance to Wilder's first Grey Cup appearance. After the decisive victory, the Argos' running back opted to trade one Wilder jersey in for another. Wilder Jr., the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star James Wilder, wore his father's jersey that is reminiscent to the ones that the Buccaneers wore in the early 1980s.
Old-school @TBBuccaneers jersey. That’s @IAm_Wilder32 wearing his dad’s jersey he’s had since he was a kid. His dad will be at the #GreyCup. Read more: https://t.co/agaTq8irGu pic.twitter.com/TUIMUVLW0s
— Devin Heroux (@Devin_Heroux) November 20, 2017
The Buccaneers drafted the elder Wilder in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay is where Wilder called home for the first nine years of his NFL career. Wilder is the Bucs' all-time rushing leader with 5,957 yards and ranks second with 37 career touchdowns.
On Nov. 26, the Argonauts battle the favored Calgary Stampeders in the Grey Cup. Wilder Jr. expects his father to be in attendence when he takes the field in a championship game for the first time since his college days, where Wilder Jr. helped lead the Florida Seminoles to a BCS Championship in 2014.
As for Wilder Jr's mother, she'll remain busy being the 25-year-old's support system leading up to Grey Cup.
My mom up here telling the store clerk "This big boy right here my son, he the rookie of the year of yall whoooole country" 😂#getWILDER
— James Wilder Jr (@IAm_Wilder32) November 19, 2017
I said "mom I ain't win it yet" she says "Baby boy ain't nobody up here seeing you" 😂😂 Swear im definitely her son!!!!!
— James Wilder Jr (@IAm_Wilder32) November 19, 2017
Finna ball in front of my momma yall I'm feelin good, put me on y'all fantasy team, Momma got my confidence above the roof!!!!!!#getWILDER
— James Wilder Jr (@IAm_Wilder32) November 19, 2017