After their streak of 18 consecutive postseason appearances was snapped in 2024, the Calgary Stampeders got right back in the saddle and returned to the playoffs last season.
With a largely overhauled roster and led by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary finished with an 11-7 record – those 11 wins matched the Stamps’ win total from the past two seasons combined – before falling in the Western Semi-Final to the BC Lions.
General manager and head coach Dave Dickenson has had to replace some more key players this off-season who left via free agency, retirement, and the NFL, so let’s see how Calgary stacks up as they hope to make their 20th playoff appearance in 21 years in 2026.
Offence
While Adams added dynamism and downfield throwing ability that the Stampeders have lacked in recent years, the backbone of the offence was built around the run game, and with offensive coordinator Pat DelMonaco having coached offensive lines for over a decade, this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
DelMonaco’s offence ran the ball the highest amount last season at just over 40 per cent, while averaging 126.7 rushing yards per game (first). Calgary’s run game was mostly power-oriented and between the tackles. It was a physical, pounding style, and there was no better running back for that than Dedrick Mills.
The 29-year-old Mills led the CFL in rushing yards by far (1,409), rushing touchdowns (11), and was second in yards per carry among qualified backs (5.6) despite leading the league in carries (250). Mills also led in rush yards after contact (877) and was second in missed tackles forced (51). To put into context just how dominant Calgary’s run game was, Mills’ 1,409 yards were the second-highest total since 2013, when former Stampeders running back and Canadian Jon Cornish had more than 1,800 yards.
The offensive line, of course, was a big reason for the success on the ground as well.
On the outside, franchise left tackle D’Antne Demery remains in place, while Preston Nichols – who only allowed six pressures on 174 pass blocking snaps towards the end of the year, and William Barnes – who made his first career start in the team’s lone playoff game in 2025, will step in at right tackle after Joshua Coker’s departure.
Along the interior, Calgary’s threesome of left guard Zack Williams, rookie centre Christopher Fortin, and right guard Christy Nkanu were fantastic in the run game in 2025. Fortin, who stepped in for starting centre Bryce Bell after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 2, went on to be the team’s nominee for most outstanding rookie. Bell is now back and fully healthy, and has experience playing at centre, guard, and tackle.
Overall, it’s a physical, deep group, and one of the best at running the ball north of the border.
As for the passing attack, Adams’ downfield throwing ability and versatile receivers paired nicely with that mauling run game, though Adams produced some of the most turnover-worthy plays in the CFL – something that Adams has struggled with throughout his career.
The receiving core has seen a bit of a shakeup, with Damien Alford opting for the NFL and Dominique Rhymes retired. Enter Dejon Brissett, who the Stampeders scooped up through free agency.
The 29-year-old Brissett is coming off the best season of his career in 2025 with the Toronto Argonauts, posting 65 catches for 907 yards and three touchdowns. The Mississauga, Ont. native spent five seasons with the Argos after being drafted second overall in the 2020 CFL Draft, claiming two Grey Cups and the Most Valuable Canadian in the big game in 2024.
He joins a Canadian contingent of Jalen Philpot, Clark Barnes, and draft picks Matt Sibley and Jesulayomi Ojutalayo that will drive the receiving core. Americans Erik Brooks and Tevin Jones will certainly figure in as well, while it remains to be seen what three-time All-CFL selection Reggie Begelton offers in 2026 after suffering a fractured leg in Week 2 in 2025.
Pounding the ground game at a high rate should be expected once again in 2026, mix in some special plays by Adams with a versatile group of wideouts, and the offence should find success once again.
Defence
Outside of linebacker Jacob Roberts, who headed down south to the NFL, second-year defensive coordinator Bob Slowik’s unit virtually all returns after a much-improved performance in 2025.
Stampeders 2025 defensive stats:
Points allowed: 23.1 (second)
Net offence allowed: 366.4 (seventh)
Rushing yards allowed: 101.2 (fourth)
Average yards per play allowed: 6.44 (third)
Turnovers forced: 42 (second)
Tackles for loss: 39 (first)
Stampeders 2024 defensive stats:
Points allowed: 29.3 (eighth)
Net offence allowed: 381.2 (eighth)
Rushing yards allowed: 125.6 (ninth)
Average yards per play allowed: 7.13 (eighth)
Turnovers forced: 21 (ninth)
Tackles for loss: 24 (ninth)
Slowik completely turned around Calgary’s defensive unit, creating a more downhill, physical, and event-creating defence. The team bent but didn’t break, allowing the second-lowest percentage of opponent drives to result in touchdowns (15.6 per cent) despite allowing the seventh most net offence per game.
It starts up front for the unit, and they have three game wreckers in defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings and edges Clarence Hicks and Folarin Orimolade.
The former, like Roberts, was with the Minnesota Vikings before being waived with a hamstring injury this off-season. Hutchings and Orimolade, who missed time with an Achilles tear in 2025, have been cleared.
In his first full year starting in the CFL, Hutchings was fantastic, as the 26-year-old led all defensive tackles in basically every stat, including sacks (eight), pressures (56), pressure rate (11.6), and tackles (39).
Hutchings was a force all season, as was Hicks off the edge. The 27-year-old broke out in 2025, finishing the year with 12 sacks (third), 65 pressures (third), and a 14.8 pressure rate (second), leading to him garnering NFL interest. His explosion off the ball is game-changing as these three are the heartbeat of Calgary’s defence.
At linebacker, Americans Marquel Lee and Kyle Wilson, as well as Canadian Micah Teitz, will soak up the snaps after Roberts’ departure.
The latter has played a significant amount of starting snaps throughout his career, with his value coming as a run defender, while Lee won the job at middle linebacker out of camp in 2025 before a bicep injury limited him to just six games.
At nickel, Derrick Moncrief Jr. is back after the best season of his career in 2025 in Slowik’s system, and
in the secondary, every impact player returns after what was an overhaul heading into 2025.
The biggest addition last year was safety Damon Webb, as the 30-year-old does everything and does it well. The two-time divisional All-CFL member missed the final three games of the regular season and the team’s lone playoff game with a pectoral injury and may not be ready to go to start 2026, as Canadian Jackson Sombach would be in line to step in.
The other Canadian on the back end was the breakout star in 2025, Adrian Greene. After leaving BC and making the switch from safety to corner, he was great, posting career highs across the board while logging six interceptions (tied for first in the CFL while two were returned for touchdowns) and 39 tackles.
The group is rounded out by Americans in physical, sticky corner Anthony Johnson, and halfbacks Sheldon Arnold and Jaydon Grant, with the latter standing out as he was more than solid in coverage, snagging three picks.
It’s a smashmouth group on both sides of the ball, and if Calgary can get the same physicality in the trenches, performance from their run game and defence, while Adams makes big plays and potentially limits the turnovers, the Stampeders could once again make noise in 2026.
