Ottawa football fans have a soft spot for Vernon Adams Jr. — the dual-threat quarterback who electrified crowds during his time in the nation's capital before moving on. Now suiting up for the Calgary Stampeders, Adams is drawing on hard lessons from a difficult 2025 season as he looks to bounce back in 2026.
A Rough Year in the Rearview
Adams has been refreshingly candid about how far things slipped last season. Speaking ahead of Stampeders training camp, he described 2025 as a "rock bottom" moment — a humbling stretch that tested his confidence and forced him to reassess everything from his footwork to his mental approach to the game.
"I don't want to feel that way again," Adams said. "That feeling of not being at your best, not being able to help your team — it stays with you. But I'm using it as fuel."
For a quarterback who was once one of the most exciting players in the CFL, the dip was noticeable. His completion percentages wavered, turnovers crept up, and Calgary's offence sputtered at critical moments. It wasn't the Vernon Adams Jr. fans had come to expect.
What's Changed This Offseason
Adams says the offseason has been about rebuilding foundations. He's been working closely with the Stampeders coaching staff on his mechanics and decision-making under pressure — two areas where the gremlins showed up most visibly last year.
He's also credited a renewed mental focus, including more deliberate film study and a commitment to arriving at camp in peak physical shape. "I took ownership of what happened," he said. "No excuses. Just work."
For a Stampeders team that has CFL championship aspirations, having Adams operating at full capacity matters enormously. Calgary's offence runs through him, and when he's on — mobile, confident, making quick reads — they're genuinely dangerous.
The Ottawa Connection
Ottawa CFL fans have plenty of reason to follow Adams' story. He spent time with the Redblacks earlier in his career and is well-remembered in the capital for his scrambling ability and highlight-reel plays. Many Ottawa supporters have kept tabs on his journey since, and his resilience narrative is one worth watching.
With the Redblacks themselves continuing to build their own roster this offseason, CFL fans in Ottawa will be tracking both teams as the 2026 season takes shape. A revitalized Adams in Calgary could make for compelling East-West matchups when the two clubs meet on the schedule.
Eyes on 2026
The CFL regular season kicks off in June, and Adams is entering camp with something to prove. He's not interested in comfortable mediocrity — he wants to remind the league what he's capable of when everything is clicking.
"I've been through worse. I know what I can do," he said. "2026 is going to be different."
For Ottawa fans who cheered him on in his Redblacks days, it's hard not to root for the comeback.
Source: 3DownNation
