CFL Veteran Jarious Jackson Joins Calgary Stampeders as Quarterbacks Coach for 2026

The Calgary Stampeders have completed their coaching lineup for the upcoming 2026 Canadian Football League season, announcing a key addition with deep CFL roots. The team has brought on Jarious Jackson, a former player and seasoned coach, to lead their quarterbacks.

A Legacy of Championship Experience

Jackson arrives in Calgary with an impressive 24 years of combined experience in the CFL as both a player and a coach, decorated with four Grey Cup championships. He won three as a player—with the BC Lions in 2006 and 2011, and with the Toronto Argonauts in 2012—and added a fourth in 2015 as a coach with the Edmonton franchise.

His coaching journey began in 2013 with the BC Lions as a quarterbacks coach. Since then, Jackson has built a remarkable resume, holding the same position with the Edmonton Elks (2014-15, 2022-24), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016-17), BC Lions again (2018-19), Toronto Argonauts (2021), and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2025). Throughout his career, he has mentored some of the league's most notable passers, including Travis Lulay, Michael Reilly, Darian Durant, Kevin Glenn, and Zach Collaros.

Proven Leadership and Offensive Prowess

Jackson's expertise extends beyond positional coaching. He has served as an offensive coordinator for the Lions (2018-19), Argonauts (2021), and Edmonton Elks (2023-24). His leadership was tested in 2024 when, after starting the season as the Elks' offensive coordinator and QB coach, he was promoted to interim head coach following an 0-5 start.

Under his guidance, the Elks staged a significant turnaround, posting a 7-6 record for the remainder of the campaign. Most impressively, the team's offense finished the season leading the CFL with an average of 27.6 offensive points per game.

Before his coaching career, the Tupelo, Mississippi, native enjoyed an eight-year playing career in the CFL, suiting up for 108 games primarily with the BC Lions (seven seasons) and one season with the Toronto Argonauts.

Stampeders' Coaching Staff Takes Shape

The rest of the Stampeders' coaching staff remains largely intact for 2026, with a couple of internal adjustments to roles. Ucambre Williams transitions from running backs coach to offensive line coach, while Pat DelMonaco will now oversee the running backs in addition to his duties as offensive coordinator.

"We feel very good about our coaching staff as we look to build on last season and we’re excited to add Jarious as our new quarterbacks coach," said Stampeders GM and head coach Dave Dickenson. "He’s done it all in this league, including being a head coach and an offensive coordinator, and we’re looking forward to seeing him push our QB room to be the best in the league."

The finalized 2026 Calgary Stampeders coaching staff is as follows: