Student of the game: Weah still learning as he tries to catch on at Riders camp

Jester Weah admits he is still learning the game of football.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound receiver didn’t start playing until his sophomore year at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wis.

“A couple of my friends I used to hang out with had to serve suspensions that summer and couldn’t play basketball,” Weah said following a training-camp practice with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. “I didn’t want to be bored that summer so I just thought, ‘Let me give (football) a shot.’

“I always played Madden growing up. I remember I had to forge a signature in order to get equipment – I knew (my mom) wasn’t going to sign it, so I told her it was a field trip for something and she signed it and the rest is history.”

Weah played multiple sports throughout high school and it came as no surprise soccer was his first love when you look at his family tree.

Weah is the nephew of George Weah, who was named the FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or in 1995 while a member of AC Milan. George Weah is also now the president of Liberia.

“Growing up, all I had been hearing and told about was the career and success he’s had,” said Jester Weah, 27. “The last time I saw him was at my dad’s wedding years ago but he’s a very busy guy.
“I’ve never been to Liberia but it has always been on my bucket list. I always see pictures and videos and all that good stuff.”

His uncle isn’t the only one to excel on the pitch for the Weah family. Jester’s cousin Tim plays for Lille and the U.S. men’s national team and his other cousin George Weah Jr., also played overseas and for the United States U20 national team.

But while Jester also played the sport, he elected to quit at an early age.

“I felt awkward as I was getting closer to fifth grade. I was taller than the other kids and I felt goofy and awkward out there and I thought, ‘I’ve got to give this sport up,’ ” Weah said.

The move to the gridiron turned out to be a good one for Weah, who chose to play collegiately with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers.

During his time there, Weah played in 42 games and recorded 77 catches for 1,570 yards and 14 touchdowns – 10 of those coming in his junior season.

While Weah went undrafted to the NFL, he did sign a contract in 2018 with the Houston Texans.

“It was fun. It was a learning experience from guys like DeAndre Hopkins and multiple vets in the league to teach me little bits and pieces of how to be successful,” Weah said.

He was released by the Texans in 2019, spent 2020 with the Washington Football Team and then was a part of the Chicago Bears until August 2021.

When he was searching for his next opportunity, his agent approached him with a chance to come north and play in the CFL with the Riders.

“I’m not sure how it works but they had my rights. He thought it would be a good opportunity to come out and prove my abilities,” Weah said. “I’ve been told the weather here gets pretty cold but I’m pretty much used to the cold so it doesn’t scare me much.

“I looked on the map and you see Regina and it feels like the middle of nowhere but as I’m getting ready to come out, I was hearing a lot of great things about the fanbase and organization.”
And while he’s still learning the game of football with some new twists brought forward by the Canadian rules, he’s found quite the teacher.

“I’m learning on the fly, day by day. It’s been a lot of fun. Duke (Williams) has taken me under his wing and I’m always asking him questions,” Weah said.

“Duke is a real cool, chill guy. He has been successful in this league so I’m always looking at him and watching his film and see what he does and try to put it into my game.”