The Stampeders announced Monday that they have signed quarterback PJ Walker, signaling that a new era of quarterbacking could be about to begin in Calgary.

Walker spent time with the team when he joined the practice roster on Oct. 8, giving him a chance to get to know the organization, the league — and the city, as his wife and young daughter both joined him here.

Fortunately for the Stampeders, the fall was warm.

“Calgary is a great city with a great football culture and fan base,” Walker said in a press release. “The opportunity to continue to grow as a player and compete helped me make the decision to sign with the Stampeders. »

“We made the trade for PJ for a reason,” said the Stampeders general manager and head coach. Dave Dickenson. “We’re doing everything we can to make our team better and that includes having a strong quarterback room. PJ is going to play a big role in all of this.

Walker, 29, who stands 5’11 and 221 pounds, most recently played in 21 NFL games between 2020 and 2023, including nine with the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns.

He completed 185 of 339 passes for 2,135 yards and threw six touchdowns, in addition to rushing 31 times for 80 yards.

Walker was one of the quarterbacks who stepped up last season in Cleveland when starter Deshaun Watson was lost to injury, helping the Browns earn a playoff berth.

He also graduated from Temple University, the same school that Stampeders legend Henry Burris played quarterback for.

He started 47 games at Temple and finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader (830) in passing yards (10,668) and touchdowns (74).

Walker also had a stint with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, who were 5-0 in 2020 when the season was canceled due to the pandemic. At the time, he led the league with 1,338 passing yards and 15 touchdowns.

After leaving the Browns, Walker signed with the Seattle Seahawks but was released just before the start of the 2024-25 season.

The terms of his contract with the Stampeder have not been released.