Vernon Adams Jr. signs contract extension with Calgary Stampeders

Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders/CFL.

The Calgary Stampeders have signed quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to a two-year contract extension through 2028. He was previously set to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Adams Jr.’s deal was negotiated by Saskatoon-based agent Chris Lambiris from Lambo Sports Group.

Per sources, the 33-year-old will earn $500,000 in 2026, including a $225,000 signing bonus, $210,000 in base salary, and $65,000 in housing, travel, and marketing.

In 2027, he can earn up to $565,000, including a $226,000 base salary, $220,000 offseason roster bonus, $104,000 in housing, marketing, travel, and playtime, plus $15,000 in all-star and awards incentives.

In 2028, his new deal has a $580,000 maximum possible value, including a $241,000 base salary, $220,000 offseason roster bonus, $104,000 in housing, marketing, travel, and playtime, plus $15,000 in all-star and awards incentives. Half his base salary in 2028 is guaranteed.

In 2025, Adams Jr. earned $465,000 as the fourth-highest paid QB in the league.

Calgary acquired the dual-threat QB in a November 2024 trade with the B.C. Lions. The Stamps sent two second-round picks and one fourth-round selection to the Leos in exchange for a third-round choice and fourth-rounder plus the veteran QB.

Adams Jr. completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 4,247 yards with 21 touchdowns versus 14 interceptions over 17 regular-season starts. He added 40 carries for 332 yards and three majors while registering an 11-6 win-loss record. In the 2025 West Semi-Final against B.C., the Pasadena, Calif. native completed 23-of-33 passes for 334 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, though Calgary lost 33-30.

Through nine seasons in his CFL career, Adams Jr. has spent time in Montreal, Hamilton, Saskatchewan, B.C., and Calgary. He has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 20,437 yards with 117 touchdowns and 68 interceptions while rushing 345 times for 1,976 yards and 26 majors over 122 regular-season games, including 77 starts. His win-loss record as a starter is 49-28.

The University of Oregon and Eastern Washington University product posted his best CFL campaign in 2023. He completed 68 percent of his passes for a league-high 4,769 passing yards with 31 touchdowns against 18 interceptions and also ran 48 times for 324 yards and one major. No. 3 led the league with ten 300-yard passing games and guided the Lions to a 12-6 record in the West Division.

Adams Jr. wants to legitimately be in contention for a championship because he believes his best football years are right now. Everyone needs to be accountable in his view, including himself, if the Stamps want to earn a ring with Calgary hosting the Grey Cup in November.

Lambiris also negotiated Chad Kelly’s contract extension with the Toronto Argonauts in 2023.

The Stampeders selected Angelo State linebacker Eric Rascoe with the team’s first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding a key piece to pair with veteran Micah Teitz. Calgary’s other major offseason addition was receiver Dejon Brissett, who set a career-high with 907 receiving yards with the Toronto Argonauts in 2025.

All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on Sunday, May 10. The Stampeders play the team’s first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday, May 18 and first regular-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, June 5.

In 2025, Calgary finished third in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record but lost the West Semi-Final to the B.C. Lions.