Ricky Stanzi resurfaces in CFL with Calgary Stampeders
By Matt Conner
Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Ricky Stanzi has resurfaced in the Canadian Football League in Calgary.
A familiar face showed up on the transaction wire in the Canadian Football League as former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Ricky Stanzi continues his professional football career with the Calgary Stampeders.
Stanzi was the Chiefs fifth round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft under then-general manager Scott Pioli. Stanzi, a product from the University of Iowa, was picked after a strong senior year with career highs in multiple categories and a TD/INT ratio of 25/6 while also winning all three bowl games he ever played.
Unfortunately for Stanzi he never threw a single NFL pass in his career, with the Chiefs or otherwise. Despite playing for teams that started options like Tyler Palko in 2011 and the pitiful 2-14 team of 2012, the Chiefs never let Stanzi in the game, instead allowing Brady Quinn and Matt Cassel to put up matching 1-7 records.
From there, Stanzi was released by the Chiefs and found short-lived homes with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, New York Giants and Detroit Lions. Now he’ll suit up for the Stampeders in the hopes of finding some real opportunity and maybe even some continuity if he can find some success up north.