The Calgary Stampeders have re-signed Canadian defensive back Godfrey Onyeka ahead of the opening of free agency on February 10.
Onyeka played all 18 games during his first season with the Stampeders, making five starts at cornerback and two at halfback. He notched 24 defensive tackles, a team-leading 17 special teams tackles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He added one special teams tackle in the Western Semi-Final.
The 31-year-old was also Calgary’s nominee for the CFL’s Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award in 2025 as the Canadian player who best demonstrated the attributes of the country’s veterans, such as strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.
Originally selected in the second round of the 2018 CFL Draft by Edmonton, Onyeka has since appeared in 78 career games with the Elks, Roughriders, and Stampeders. He has been credited with 55 defensive tackles, 50 special teams tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two knockdowns.
Born in Nigeria and raised in Brampton, Onyeka spent four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he had 186 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, two sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, a blocked kick, and a defensive touchdown. He received three consecutive first-team All-Canadian selections with the Golden Hawks.
The Calgary Stampeders finished third in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record but lost the West Semi-Final to the B.C. Lions. Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 4,247 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions over 17 regular-season starts, posting a 11-6 record as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Stampeders ranked fourth in net offence, seventh in net defence, and second with a turnover differential of plus-nine. Dedrick Mills won the CFL’s rushing title with 1,409 yards, while the team’s leading receiver was Dominique Rhymes with 886 yards, and the leading tackler was Jacob Roberts with 102 tackles. Calgary finished fifth in attendance with average crowds of 22,295, which was a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year.
