Former all-stars sign one-day pacts to official retire with Red and White
Spencer Wilson grew up in Calgary.
Keon Raymond grew to love his adopted city.
Both were saluted Wednesday by the Calgary Stampeders when the club signed them to one-day contracts in order to officially retire them as members of the Red and White.
“Signing a one-day contract with the Stampeders isn’t just a formality, it’s a way to say thank you to the organization, the fans and my teammates for the incredible journey we’ve shared,” said Wilson, who was a key offensive lineman for the Horsemen from 2011-18 before playing one final CFL campaign elsewhere. “I’m proud to retire as a Stampeder, and I’m grateful for every moment I spent on the field with this team.”
Raymond echoed those sentiments.
“Signing and retiring as a Calgary Stampeder is a way to close an unforgettable chapter in my life,” said Raymond, who was a stand-out defensive back for the Red and White from 2008-15 before he, too, spent one more season elsewhere in the CFL. “It’s not just about hanging up the cleats but celebrating the journey, the brotherhood and the fans who made every moment special.”
The best of those moments came during Grey Cup victories — two each for the two celebrated players.
An undrafted free agent out of the Calgary Colts junior program, Wilson joined the Stampeders in 2011 and played 108 regular-season games with them over an eight-year period. He also played 12 post-season games with the Stamps and was a member of Grey Cup championship teams in 2014 and ’18.
The versatile Wilson made starts at all five positions on the o-line during his time in Calgary and was a West Division and CFL all-star in both 2015 and ’16. He was the Stamps nominee for the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in 2015.
Wilson concluded his CFL career by playing 16 games for the Montreal Alouettes in 2019.
“Calgary has always been more than just a city to me — it’s been home,” Wilson said. “I’ve had the privilege of wearing the red and white for so many years, and it feels right to officially close this chapter of my life where it all began.”
Raymond was a versatile performer over the course of eight seasons and 120 regular-season games in Calgary, seeing action at various positions in the secondary and showing a penchant for big plays. His five interception returns for touchdowns are tied for the most in franchise history, and his 24 career picks are the most of any Stamps player in the past 30 years.
He was a West Division all-star in 2011 and ’12, a CFLPA all-star in 2012 and a two-time winner of the Presidents’ Ring as the player deemed to have best combined excellence on the field with leadership, inspiration and motivational skills.
Raymond was a Grey Cup winner in 2008 and ’14 with the Stampeders.
After wrapping up his time with the Stamps in 2015, Raymond played a combined 10 games for the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2016.
The St. Louis native and his family have made Calgary their permanent home to this day.
“As I step into the next phase of life I’m excited for the new challenges ahead, embracing every opportunity with the same passion and purpose that defined my career,” Raymond said.
Both Wilson and Raymond marked the ceremonial signings with a visit Wednesday to McMahon Stadium.
“We appreciate what both these guys did for our city and our organization,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “Both of these players made significant contributions to the organization, to the community and to the sport and we’re very happy that they are returning to retire as Stampeders. They will always be a part of our family.”