P.J. Walker is looking it a profession. His most up-to-date team, the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, announced that the veteran quarterback is retiring.
Despite going undrafted out of Temple in 2017, Walker has played nearly a decade in skilled football. His profession began with the Colts, where he spent nearly three years on the practice squad. Following a stint within the XFL, the QB caught on with the Panthers via a two-year, $1.5MM deal. That move reunited him with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule, and it ended up vaulting Walker into relevancy over the subsequent few years.
Walker got one start in each 2020 (filling in for Teddy Bridgewater) and 2021 (filling in for Sam Darnold/Cam Newton). He won each of those games, although he tossed one touchdown vs. three interceptions in his starts. He got an extended look rather than Darnold and Baker Mayfield in 2022, starting a career-high five games. He went 2-3 in those outings, ending the season with 731 passing yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
He parlayed that performance right into a two-year contract with the Bears, but he didn’t make it to the regular season along with his recent squad. He quickly caught on with the Browns practice squad and eventually got a probability to start out. He went 1-1 in his two games atop the depth chart, but he still finished the 12 months with an unsightly one touchdown vs. five interceptions.
Walker had a transient stint with the Seahawks through the 2024 preseason before catching on with the Stampeders. He only began one game during his stint within the CFL. Now, the Temple legend is hanging up his cleats.