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AJ Mast \/ The Associated Press files<\/p>\n
Blue Bombers quarterback Taylor Elgersma was cut by the Green Bay Packers after training camp last year, then worked his way through a number of options before signing in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The University of Wilfrid Laurier product was cut by the Green Bay Packers at the end of last year\u2019s training camp, but a strong pre-season performance left him hopeful he\u2019d get another NFL shot. He went on to work out for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins without receiving a contract offer.<\/p>\n
He was then selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2026 UFL Quarterback Draft and opted to go down that road in hopes of getting more tape playing American football to keep the NFL dream alive.<\/p>\n
Canadian players have never been able to obtain the necessary work visa to play in the UFL, yet Elgersma reported to camp in Birmingham anyway, confident things would work out.<\/p>\n
In short, they didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Stallions head coach A.J. McCarron \u2014 a former NFL quarterback \u2014 even called U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville to help speed the process but it didn\u2019t make a difference. Elgersma was able to practise with the team, but sat out their first three regular season games before officially signing with the Bombers on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrowing up, I always envisioned myself being a pro football player. Period. And then after I got drafted I was ecstatic. And then the opportunities down south opened up.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Blue and Gold drafted the former Hec Crighton Trophy winner in the second round, 18th overall, in the 2025 CFL Draft. He\u2019ll now report to rookie camp on May 6.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know all the ins and outs of the work visa. I just know I was told that it was gonna happen and it didn\u2019t happen. And that\u2019s OK,\u201d said Elgersma.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m super fired up to be here, I\u2019m happy with how this worked out. For me, I think I\u2019m in the right spot, the right place for my career.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow is the right time so I can get myself back and ready to roll for training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t fault a player for pursuing the highest level of his profession, but the list of quarterbacks that have gone from the UFL to the NFL is incredibly small \u2014 and even those who have made the jump haven\u2019t stuck around for much longer than a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n
Making the move even more of a head-scratcher is that last year\u2019s UFL MVP Bryce Perkins left the spring league to sign with the Bombers in November, despite not being guaranteed a roster spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m super fired up to be here, I\u2019m happy with how this worked out. For me, I think I\u2019m in the right spot, the right place for my career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of anyone\u2019s stance on Elgersma\u2019s career path or the UFL, he stands by his decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas this process maybe taken a little bit of time to get to this point? Sure, but I\u2019m better now for it because of what I\u2019ve gone through, not only in Green Bay but through workouts, through a combine and then obviously through the last couple of weeks down in Birmingham,\u201d said Elgersma.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s not really up to me to change my decisions based on people\u2019s opinions\u2026. I think I\u2019m a better player and a better pro from this last year and I\u2019m just excited to get rolling.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now that the dust has settled, Elgersma \u2014 who is currently making the 20-hour drive from Alabama back to his home province \u2014 will prepare to battle fellow CFL newcomers Perkins and Payton Thorne, along with third-year Bomber Terry Wilson, for the No. 2 job behind Zach Collaros.<\/p>\n
Time will tell, but if Elgersma reaches his full potential, the Bombers might have their heir-apparent to Collaros.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny time you\u2019re in a building with someone of his calibre it\u2019s important that you soak up every single thing that you can from him \u2014 all the information, all the tips that I can gain from him, I want to learn them,\u201d said Elgersma.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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\u201cI would also say there are a lot of other guys in this room and in this building that I have a lot of respect for. We already talked about Bryce, Payton Thorne is here as well, Terry Wilson \u2026 there\u2019s other vets there in this room and for me my job is to come here and help the Winnipeg Blue Bombers win a Grey Cup. That\u2019s all I\u2019m focused on, is coming to be the best version of myself in the building every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also not lost on him on what it would mean to be a starting Canadian quarterback in the CFL \u2014 something that seemed impossible for decades until Nathan Rourke became a star for the B.C. Lions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope one day there\u2019s young kids out there who choose to play football because there\u2019s Canadians at the quarterback position that are leading the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n
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Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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