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No. 2 pivot Josh Love 'not afraid to make a mistake' in trying to become CFL star
Published May 11, 2026 • 5 minute read
Josh Love
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Josh Love throws a pass during the team’s rookie camp practice on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia
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Josh Love is blown away by the glorious past of the Calgary Stampeders at the quarterback position.
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Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Dave Dickenson …
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They’ve all gone — right to the top of the game — where he’d like to go in the Canadian Football League.
“The history here in this organization is awesome,” said Love, one of five QBs in Stampeders camp this spring. “I hope to live up to half what they did … you know?
“I mean … I always looked up to Tom Brady,” continued Love. “But coming here, and obviously going to San Jose State, I really looked up to Jeff Garcia and what he did at San Jose State and what he did here.”
Brady, Flutie, Garcia, Dickenson …
They were all QB2 at some point of their respective careers, which is where Love is looking like he’ll live for the time being with the Stampeders.
And that’s a step up given where the 29-year-old was at in the pecking order just a few weeks back.
Of course, Vernon Adams Jr. is the undisputed first-stringer, especially after signing an extension to keep him with the team through the 2028 CFL campaign.
And P.J. Walker, with all his professional pigskin experience, was considered the backup behind centre with the Horsemen. But just a few weeks back, the former NFL pivot informed the Stamps he was retiring after just one CFL season.
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So Love assumed the No. 2 role heading into training camp, which opened Sunday at McMahon Stadium.
“It doesn’t really matter what the pecking order is,” Love said. “In my mind, it’s get more comfortable with the offence, learn the offence, get comfortable with the coaches and all the stuff. It’s about getting familiar with the guys and just getting familiar with the offence.
“So I don’t even think of that,” continued the 6-foot-2, 198-pounder. “I want to come in and compete like I’m starting, because if something happens, I need to be ready to play. So that’s the way I take it. I prepare like I’m a starter, and I take pride in my preparation.
“And I’ve learned a lot from Vernon and a lot from these coaches. And I really take pride in that.”
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[Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson, left, talks to the team at the end of practice during the Calgary Stampeders rookie camp at McMahon Stadium on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Day 1 of Stampeders main camp: Grey Cup feel to first full huddle of 2026 CFL campaign](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/cfl/calgary-stampeders/day-1-stampeders-main-camp-grey-cup-feel-2026-cfl-season)
2. [Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. celebrates his second TD pass against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in first-half CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.
'Vernon gives us that opportunity': Stampeders extend contract of QB Adams Jr. with championships in mind](https://calgaryherald.com/sports/stampeders-extend-contract-of-qb-vernon-adams-jr)
Who are the QBs in Stamps camp?
# Age Ht Wt School
3 Vernon Adams Jr. 33 5-11 190 Oregon
11 Jacolby Criswell* 24 6-1 230 East Tennessee State
12 Josh Love 29 6-2 198 San Jose State
16 Ben Wooldridge* 26 6-2 214 Louisiana
19 Quincy Vaughn 24 6-4 250 North Dakota
* — rookie
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Draftee Vaughn, of course, slots back in as the Stamps’ short-yardage weapon. The tall QB carried the ball 37 times for 67 yards and six touchdowns while being used for third-down conversions and goal-line situations during the 2025 CFL campaign.
Wooldridge and Criswell, meanwhile, are new to the club, with one of them likely to earn a spot on the practice roster with the Stamps.
“Ben we’ve been talking with a little longer — he almost came up last year on our practice-roster expansion,” Dickenson said. “So we know more about Ben, and I thought he’s doing well — he’s figuring things out.
“And Jacolby was one of those got-with-us-late players. I think the CFL game is different for him. But we like his talent, and he’s a good runner — strong. We’ve just got to make sure we get him up to speed.”
What does Love bring to QB?
Speed isn’t something Love necessarily brings to the field.
He’s not a runner, per se, like Garcia or Flutie.
Love is more Brady in terms of standing in the pocket and perhaps even more like Dickenson by being elusive in the backfield when he needs to be.
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“I’ll try to move around a little bit,” Love said. “But I’m not gonna run around there like crazy. I’m going to be confident in the pocket and confident with what I see and deliver.”
He delivered sparkling numbers in his second year with the Michigan Panthers — a 60.6% passing efficiency for 1,556 yards and 13 touchdowns — during the 2023 USFL season.
And then he spent a year with the UFL’s Memphis Showboats in 2024 before arriving in Calgary ahead of last CFL season.
“I think I’m a guy that takes command and has a good understanding of the offence,” said the native of Mission Viejo, Calif. “And I’m always still learning and trying to learn as much as I can as I go and suck up all the knowledge from the coaching staff and Vernon.
“I try to extend plays — and I can. But I’m a guy that’s going to stand there in the pocket and make throws.”
Josh Love at Stampeders rookie camp
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Josh Love throws a pass during the team’s rookie camp practice on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia
The Stamps got a little taste of that in Love’s first year, as he went 5-of-8 for 67 yards in a couple of appearances for the Red and White last season.
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In Week 20 action against the Toronto Argonauts, Love featured in the fourth quarter, with his performance highlighted by a 50-yard connection with receiver Jalen Philpot.
“He was progressing well last year,” said Dickenson, of Love. “And I thought when he played at the end of the year — he did really some good things. We thought we could win with him last year.
“He’s not a young guy, he’s hungry, he’s a great teammate, and he’s a worker,” continued Dickenson. “I’d like to see him progress in his read progressions. But one thing he did last year is he pushed the ball down the field, and he’s not afraid to make a mistake. Those are important things as a quarterback.”
But does it make him QB2 for the Stamps?
Stay tuned.
“Playing with the scout team last year against our defence was great, because our defence is unbelievable,” Love said. “All those reps I did on scout team and all the reps I do on my own has really helped.
“And I’m having a blast just soaking up all the knowledge. You’ve got Dave and all his history. You’ve got Jarious Jackson in the room coaching us now — and he’s this unbelievable player and coach. And I’m just trying to suck up everything I can from Vernon, trying to be there for him and anything he needs.
“So I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to soak up everything I can.”
Short yardage
Main camp continues Tuesday at McMahon (10:10 a.m.) … The Stamps’ first pre-season game goes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday, May 18, at McMahon (1 p.m.) … The second and final pre-season contest for the club is slated for Friday, May 29, against the host Edmonton Elks (7 p.m.).
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
X: @ToddSaelhofPM
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