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Former Browns QB, XFL superstar announces retirement after 9 years
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- Former Browns QB, XFL superstar announces retirement after 9 years
Former Cleveland Browns quarterback and XFL superstar P.J. Walker is hanging up his cleats for good .
According to a post from the CFL's Calgary Stampeders, the team Walker was slated to play with in 2026, the quarterback is retiring .
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"The Stampeders have been informed by QB P.J. Walker that he has decided to step away from football after nine years of playing professionally," the Stampeders wrote on X.
Walker, 31, played for the Stampeders last season, serving as a backup.
He appeared in 13 games (one start) and completed 59.3% of his passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns to four interceptions.
P.J. Walker's NFL career
Dec 19, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker (6) warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
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P.J. Walker played his college ball at Temple, where he put together an impressive career that led to him owning the school's all-time records in pass attempts (1,410), completions (803), passing yards (10,273), touchdown passes (72) and total offense (11,100). He was also Temple's first quarterback to lead the program to multiple bowl games.
After his college career was over, Walker went undrafted in 2017 and initially latched on with the Indianapolis Colts but never got into a regular-season game.
He saw his first NFL action in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers, with whom he spent three seasons with, serving as a backup.
Walker completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,461 yards and five touchdowns to 11 picks in that span.
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His most memorable moment was a Hail Mary pass to wide receiver DJ Moore in a game against the Atlanta Falcons .
The play came with plenty of controversy, though, as Moore removed his helmet after the play, which drew a penalty and led to a longer extra point that the Panthers kicker missed, sending the game into overtime. Carolina went on to lose that game in the extra frame.
Along with his stints with the Panthers and Colts in the NFL, Walker played in six games (two starts) with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 and had cups of coffee with the Chicago Bears (2023) and the Seattle Seahawks (2024).
XFL superstar
Feb 8, 2020; Houston , TX, USA; Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker (11) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Wildcats in a XFL football game at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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While P.J. Walker had some good moments in the NFL, he really shined during his stint in the now-defunct XFL.
Walker spent the 2020 XFL season with the Houston Roughnecks, where he played his best football.
He completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns to four picks in five games.
Walker also added 24 carries for 99 yards and one touchdown, showing his impressive athleticism. It was very clear he was operating on another level in that league.
Walker was well on his way to winning the league's MVP award , but the XFL shut down before the season ended due to financial problems.
Regardless, Walker was a shining example of just how crucial semi-pro leagues can be, as he was able to parlay his standout showing into multiple NFL jobs in the years that followed.
