Demerio Houston, Micah Teitz sign with Stamps

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — The Calgary Stampeders announced on Tuesday that they have signed free agent American defensive back Demerio Houston to a two-year contract. Houston was a West Division and CFL All-Star in 2023 as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The team also announced that it has signed free agent linebacker Micah Teitz.

News of Houston’s move was first reported by Dan Ralph of The Canadian Press on Feb. 6.

Now hearing DB Demerio Houston has agreed in principle to a two-year deal with Calgary that has a total guaranteed figure exceeding $275k, making him one of the league’s highest-paid defensive backs.

— Dan Ralph (@danralphcp) February 6, 2024

After dealing with injury in his first two seasons in Winnipeg, Houston burst onto the scene in 2023 to lead CFL in interceptions with seven, while also recovering three fumbles and scoring a defensive major of his own. Houston was also important in the post-season, coming away with an interception on quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to help the Bombers overcome the BC Lions in the Western Final.

Overall the veteran defensive back has 84 defensive tackles, nine picks and a touchdown over 30 appearances with the Blue Bombers.

The Shelby, NC native was named an All-Star after his stellar 2023 season as was listed as No. 20 on CFL.ca’s top 30 pending free agents list.

Teitz, 27, returns to his Calgary roots with the Stampeders.

The Springbank Community High School and University of Calgary alumnus spent the first five seasons of his CFL career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Teitz played 58 career regular-season games for the Roughriders, who selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft. He accumulated 127 defensive tackles including eight tackles for loss, 31 special-teams tackles, three sacks and three knockdowns.

In 2023, he played all 18 games for Saskatchewan including 17 starts at weak side linebacker and recorded 57 defensive tackles including three tackles for loss, six special-teams tackles and two knockdowns.

In 41 career university games for the Dinos, Teitz made 191 tackles including 16 tackles for loss and added seven sacks, three forced fumbles and nine passes defended. He twice was named a Canada West all-star and was second-team all-Canadian on one occasion.

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