Follow CALGARY STAMPEDERS

© 2026 Calgary Stampeders. All rights reserved.

Menu
@
Features July 21, 2025

Everybody Eats: Stampeders Establish New Identity in 2025

Grey Cups aren’t won in July.

But for a team that was written off, overlooked and projected to finish last in the majority of CFL power rankings, it’s hard not to admire a 5-1 start to the season.

And this impressive feat hasn’t come easy.

In addition to losing their starting middle linebacker Marquel Lee, starting centre Bryce Bell and longtime long snapper Aaron Crawford in Week 2 due to injuries, the club is also without all-star receiver and veteran leader in Reggie Begelton, who won the Presidents’ Ring in 2024 after being voted by his teammates as an individual who most exemplifies leadership, inspiration and motivational skills.

In Week 3, the team suffered its first loss of the year to the Ottawa Redblacks in what’s been dubbed the “monsoon game” as McMahon Stadium was hit with inclement weather all throughout the day.

In Week 5, the team handed the five-time Western Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers their first loss of the season in dominant fashion as Calgary claimed victory in the inaugural Stampede Bowl.

Their next test came against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who were coming off the bye week with a perfect 4-0 record. Adversity piled on when the scheduled Friday night start was continually delayed throughout the evening due to poor air quality until finally at 10:45 p.m. the call was made to push the contest to 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Despite a significant amount of players having to share dorm rooms for the night, the Stamps put on a commanding display against the Riders, culminating in a 24-10 win and for the second week in a row, delivering a previously undefeated team their first loss of the season.

Due to the postponed game, Calgary was forced on a shortened week of practice as they prepared once again for a team coming off a bye week with a Blue Bombers team fresh for a taste for revenge.

The Red and White rolled into Winnipeg and stomped the Bombers 41-20, earning their first road win in Manitoba since 2017. The victory also marked the first time the Blue and Gold have lost exiting a bye week in 12 games.

So, how has this newly formed team silenced the doubters and overcome the adversity thrown their way thus far?

Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. credits the character of the men in the locker-room.

“We’re a resilient team,” said Adams Jr. “Adversity is hitting us but true character shows when adversity hits and I think we have a lot of good character guys in here. Guys that work hard, put the work in every single day and understand that we’re fighting for other people’s families.

 “I’m happy with how we’ve played the first third of the season at 5-1, now we got our next third here. Minimum we want to go at least 4-2 but if we can do 5-1 or 6-0 that would be fine, too. But (we’re still taking it) one game at a time.”

One could define this past stretch of games as signature wins.

Through the first third of the season, the 2025 iteration of the Calgary Stampeders has found its identity and established a culture as a team that is gritty and unselfish. This is a team that sees every individual subscribe to the benefit of the collective.

In each game this season, Adams has spread the ball around to at least six different receivers with the most coming in Week 3 when he found nine separate targets.

In last week’s game alone, four different defensive backs recorded interceptions including rookie Anthony Johnson Jr., who filled in for Tyler Richardson at corner in his first CFL game.

Nine different starting roles have had to be filled since Week 1’s opening day roster due to injury, with all nine replacements stepping up to the task:

In addition to Johnson replacing Richardson’s spot, linebacker Jacob Roberts has had to slide into the starting role on the weak-side while Micah Teitz has moved over to the middle linebacker spot in place of Lee.

On offence, 2025 eighth overall pick Chris Fortin has been starting at centre for the injured Bell. With Jalen Philpot moving over to the inside slotback position in place of Begelton, Erik Brooks has moved to Philpot’s previous spot and first overall pick Damien Alford has slid into the starting wide receiver position for Clark Barnes.

The next-man-up mentality continues on special teams where Jason MacGougan has been filling in for Crawford since Week 2 and Mark Vassett has taken over the starting punter duties since Fraser Masin suffered an injury before the Stampede Bowl.

No matter who is on the field, the Stampeders have entrenched themselves as a team dedicated to accomplishing whatever it takes to win as a collective.

“We had to find that identity,” said Adams. “Last year’s identity was not what we wanted to be. Everyone eats, we spread the ball around, and the defence is the same way. All those guys are eating as well. We’re giving Rene (Paredes) a chance and Mark is doing a great job flipping the field.

“(We’re working together) as a collective, (earning) team wins, so it feels good.”

While the Stamps have found success over the past seven weeks, it’s time to keep building on the foundation they’ve laid out and move on to the next opponent.

The group’s next challenge comes on Friday as the Stamps prepare to host a competitive Montreal Alouettes team that sits atop the East Division with a 4-2 record.

“We know Montreal is a good team,” Adams admitted. “They’ve been a contender every single year for the last few years, so we know they want to come over here and bring it.

“It’s always been some good battles when I was in Montreal coming over to Calgary, so I expect a great battle this Thursday.”

Kickoff between the division leaders is set for 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, July 24 at McMahon Stadium.

BUY TICKETS