The Calgary Stampeders will retain head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson for the 2027 season, according to CFL TSN reporter Farhan Lalji.
Dave Dickenson is 53 years old and from Great Falls, Montana. In 2026, Calgary finished the season 9-9, missing the playoffs. Calgary’s offense averaged 33.1 points per game, 372.8 yards per game, 271.3 passing yards per game, 114.4 rushing yards per game, 63 touchdowns, and allowed 36 sacks.
Dickenson joined the Stampeders as an assistant coach after he retired following the 2009 season. In 2010, he was promoted to quarterback’s coach and offensive coordinator. During his time as an assistant coach, Dickenson helped running back Jon Cornish win the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.
In 2014, he was the offensive coordinator when the Stampeders won the Grey Cup in 2014 over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was named the Grey Cup MVP. Two years later, Dickenson took over as the head coach for John Hufnagel.
In Dickenson’s first three seasons as the head coach, Calgary went to three consecutive Grey Cup title games, losing the first two to the Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts. In the 106th Grey Cup, the Stampeders defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16 at Commonwealth Stadium.
After that, Calgary would lose four straight Western Semi-Final games. In 2024, the Stampeders missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004. In 2025, Calgary rebounded to an 11-7 record, losing to the B.C. Lions in the Western Semi-Final. Calgary’s offense averaged 24.8 points per game, 375.6 net offense per game, 261.9 passing yards per game, 126.7 rushing yards per game, 44 touchdowns, and allowed 33 sacks. Since 2023, the Stampeders are 31-40-1.
As a player, Dickenson played 10 seasons in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders (06-00, 2009) and the B.C. Lions (2003-07). He also had a brief stint in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions.
In the CFL, Dickenson completed 1,635 of 2,421 passes (67.5%) for 22,913 yards, 154 touchdowns, 50 interceptions, 253 carries for 1,560 yards, and 14 touchdowns in 143 games. He won three Grey Cup championships, Grey Cup MVP in 2006, CFL Most Outstanding Player in 2000, a CFL All-Star in 2000, and a two-time CFL West All-Star (2000, 2003).
Dickenson was inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame in 2015 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
