Former NFL QB P.J. Walker Announces Retirement

P.J. Walker announced his retirement from football on Thursday, ending his nine-year professional career.

Walker had been playing with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders since signing with the team in 2024. The Stampeders announced his decision to step away from the game, and his agent confirmed the decision.

Walker began his professional football career as an undrafted quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts following the 2017 NFL Draft. The former Temple signal caller spent the first three seasons of his NFL career on the Colts’ practice squad.

Walker spent some time with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020, before ultimately signing with the Carolina Panthers.

Walker appeared in 15 games over his three-year career in Charlotte, making seven starts for the Panthers. He finished his Carolina career with a 4-3 record as QB1, completing 57.5% of his pass attempts for 1,461 yards, five touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Walker suited up for the Cleveland Browns in his most recent NFL action, appearing in six games and making two starts in 2023. In Cleveland, he completed 48.6% of his pass attempts for 674 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.

Walker also spent time on the practice squad for the Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks.

The most famous moment of Walker’s NFL career came when he launched a miraculous 62-yard touchdown bomb to Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore, tying the game against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons with just seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Moore was penalized for taking his helmet off after the catch, ultimately resulting in a missed extra point from Eddy Pineiro that sent the game to overtime.

The Falcons went on to win in OT, but this highlight from Walker is still something to behold.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 2:04 PM.