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Cameron Judge

Cameron Judge (born November 29, 1994) is a Canadian professional football linebacker for the of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Born in , Judge grew up in the region and developed his football skills through high school at in before earning a to play at the (UCLA). At UCLA, he played as an outside linebacker from 2013 to 2016, appearing in 44 games and recording 45 tackles and 1 interception, while serving as team co-captain in 2015. Selected second overall by the in the 2017 , Judge began his professional career with the team, playing three seasons from 2017 to 2019 and establishing himself as a key defensive player with 102 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 38 regular-season games. In 2019, he was named the Roughriders' Most Outstanding Canadian and a finalist for the league-wide award, highlighting his impact as a national talent. After sitting out the 2020 season to pursue an NFL opportunity, Judge signed with the in 2021, where he played nine games before being traded to the ahead of the 2022 season. With from 2022 to 2024, he achieved career highs, including 90 defensive tackles and 5 interceptions in 2023, and was selected as a CFL in 2022, while earning nominations for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Canadian in both 2023 and 2024. Returning to in 2025 via trade, Judge has continued his strong play, recording 79 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles in 18 games, and was named the team's nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Over his CFL career spanning 118 games, Judge has amassed 435 defensive tackles, 18 sacks, 11 interceptions, 9 forced fumbles, and 2 defensive touchdowns, solidifying his reputation as one of the league's premier linebackers.

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Cameron Judge was born on November 29, 1994, in , . His parents are actor , known professionally as Douglas Christopher Judge and recognized for roles in Stargate SG-1 and voicing Kratos in the God of War video game series, and Margaret Judge, a former model. Judge has two older brothers, Chris and Jordan, and two younger sisters, Catrina and Chloe. The family relocated from Montreal to Vancouver when Judge was three years old due to his father's acting career, and they later lived in Victoria, British Columbia, for several years. They moved to California around age 12, where Judge was exposed to American football through his family's encouragement of sports, influenced by his father's own background as a college football player at the University of Oregon. This relocation marked the beginning of his involvement in organized high school athletics in .

High school career

Judge attended in , where he played as an outside linebacker. As a junior in 2011, Judge emerged as a defensive leader for the Lions, recording 112 tackles to lead the team, along with two fumble recoveries and four pass deflections, helping Oaks Christian achieve an 11-3 record and advance in the . In his senior year of 2012, he contributed 62 tackles, two sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced , and one blocked , while also returning an 98 yards for a and averaging 35 yards per kickoff return; these efforts supported the team's 8-3 overall record and 4-1 league mark. Rated a three-star prospect and ranked the No. 41 outside linebacker nationally by , Judge drew interest from multiple programs, including Arizona State and , before recommitting to UCLA on in February 2013.

College career

Judge enrolled at the in 2013 after receiving a offer stemming from his high school recruitment at . He majored in at and completed his degree in 2017. During his four seasons with the from 2013 to 2016, Judge appeared in 44 games with 2 starts, primarily contributing on special teams while developing as a linebacker. He transitioned from playing inside linebacker to outside linebacker over the course of his career, showcasing versatility in defensive alignments. Across his tenure, Judge amassed 45 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 pass deflection, with much of his impact coming from special teams duties. The Bruins participated in two bowl games during his time, including the 2015 and the 2016 Cactus Bowl, in which Judge saw action. As a redshirt in 2013, Judge had limited playing time, primarily on special teams, where he recorded 9 tackles over 8 games. In his sophomore year of 2014, he continued in a reserve role across 13 games, contributing 6 tackles while focusing on special teams development. Judge's season in 2015 saw increased involvement in 12 games, with 10 tackles. In his senior year of 2016, Judge emerged as a standout, starting two games (against BYU and Stanford) and recording a career-high 20 tackles, 1 (against ), and additional contributions on defense and special teams over 11 games. He served as a team co-captain that season, helping lead the Bruins' linebacker group.

Professional career

Saskatchewan Roughriders (2017–2019)

Cameron Judge was selected by the with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2017 . He signed a professional contract with the team on June 18, 2017. As a rookie linebacker in 2017, Judge made his professional debut in limited action, appearing in three games primarily on special teams and recording four tackles while adjusting to the speed and physicality of CFL play. His background at UCLA, where he honed his linebacker skills in a competitive Pac-12 environment, aided this initial transition to the pro level. Judge's role expanded significantly in 2018, as he played in all 18 regular-season games, contributing 41 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble, with much of his impact coming from defensive snaps and continued special teams duties. The 2019 season marked Judge's breakout year, in which he started all 17 games, leading all Canadian players in the West Division with 61 defensive tackles, alongside 11 special teams tackles, five sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), and one forced fumble. That year, the Roughriders posted a 13-5 regular-season record to claim first place in the West Division, then advanced past the Edmonton Eskimos 37-12 in the Western Semi-Final before falling 20-13 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western Final. Across his three seasons with the Roughriders from 2017 to 2019, Judge appeared in 38 games, amassing 102 defensive tackles and 18 special teams tackles.

Toronto Argonauts (first stint)

After opting out of the 2020 season with the to pursue NFL opportunities, Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge signed with the as a on February 17, 2021. This move brought Judge to the Eastern Division, where he transitioned from his prior Western Conference experience, leveraging his versatility as a weak-side linebacker and special teams contributor to bolster Toronto's defense under coordinator Glen Young. In the , which was shortened to 14 games due to the prior year's cancellation, Judge appeared in 10 regular-season games for , starting eight. He recorded 13 defensive tackles and one special teams tackle, focusing primarily on run support and coverage duties while adapting to the East's faster-paced offenses. His contributions helped Toronto's defense rank mid-pack league-wide in points allowed, aiding the team's 9-5 record and East Division title, though they fell 23-20 to in the division semifinal. Judge's stint emphasized his athleticism and football IQ, honed from three seasons with , but was limited by the competitive depth at linebacker; he saw rotational snaps without major injuries or standout individual games. Overall, his 2021 totals included no sacks, interceptions, or forced fumbles, marking a transitional year before his trade to in February 2022.

Calgary Stampeders (2022–2024)

Cameron Judge joined the in February 2022, shortly before the CFL free agency period, after the team acquired his negotiating rights from the and signed him to a contract. This move came following his lone season with in 2021, where he had begun to reestablish himself in the league. In the 2022 season, Judge emerged as a cornerstone of Calgary's defense, recording 78 defensive tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions over 17 games. His performance earned him recognition as Calgary's nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian award, highlighting his leadership among national . The Stampeders finished the regular season with a 12-6-0 record, securing third place in the West Division and advancing to the playoffs, though they fell to the 30-16 in the Western Semi-Final. Judge also contributed two special teams tackles that year. Judge's strong play continued into , where he achieved a career-high 90 defensive tackles, along with two sacks, five interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), and two forced fumbles in 17 games. His interceptions led the CFL that season. Despite these contributions, struggled with a 6-12 record, placing third in the West and losing 41-30 to the Lions in the Western Semi-Final. He added one special teams tackle and was again nominated for the Most Outstanding Canadian award. During the 2024 season, Judge registered 73 defensive tackles, one , and one forced across 18 games, maintaining his role as a defensive mainstay. The Stampeders endured a challenging year, finishing with a 5-12-1 record and missing the playoffs for the first time in 19 seasons. His efforts earned him another nomination for the Most Outstanding Canadian , as well as consideration for top defensive honors. Over his three seasons with , Judge amassed 241 defensive tackles, eight sacks, seven interceptions, and three special teams tackles, solidifying his reputation as one of the league's premier Canadian defenders. He was traded to the in January 2025.

Toronto Argonauts (second stint)

In January 2025, the acquired linebacker Cameron Judge from the in exchange for defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade, marking his return to the team after a previous stint in 2021. Following the trade, the extended Judge's contract through the 2026 CFL season, securing the veteran Canadian for two additional years and affirming his role as a of the defense. Early in the year, Judge became a first-time father on January 6, 2025, when he and his wife Brittany welcomed their son, an event that added personal motivation as he balanced family life with his professional commitments during training camp and the season. During the 2025 season, Judge anchored the Argonauts' linebacker corps, appearing in all 18 games and recording 79 defensive tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles, while also contributing four special teams tackles and one defensive touchdown. His versatility shone in key moments, including a pick-six interception return for a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in August and a forced fumble recovered for a score by teammate Jordan Williams in another contest. Despite the team's challenging 5–13 record and missing the playoffs, Judge's consistent production helped stabilize a defense that faced injuries and inconsistencies, earning him the Argonauts' Most Outstanding Defensive Player award in October.

Awards and honors

Divisional awards

In 2019, Cameron Judge received the West Division Most Outstanding Canadian award for his performance with the , marking his first major CFL recognition. He was also a finalist for the league-wide Most Outstanding Canadian award. During that season, he recorded 61 defensive tackles, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts and demonstrating leadership as a Canadian linebacker. The award was determined through a two-stage : first, each CFL team selects its Most Outstanding Canadian via votes from the local chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the head coach; team winners then advance as divisional nominees, with the final selection made by all FRC members and the nine CFL head coaches. In 2024, Judge earned nominations for both West Division Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Canadian while with the , highlighting his sustained impact on the defensive line. Over his three-year tenure with from 2022 to 2024, he amassed 241 defensive tackles, 8 sacks, and 7 interceptions, with his consistent play in coverage and run defense justifying the divisional nods under the same FRC and head coaches voting structure. Judge was named a CFL in 2022.

Team awards

During his tenure with the from 2017 to 2019, Cameron Judge earned the team's Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2019, selected unanimously by his teammates and coaching staff for his pivotal role in the linebacker corps and consistent defensive contributions throughout the season. Judge did not receive additional team-level honors during his time with the Calgary Stampeders from 2022 to 2024, though he was nominated internally for Most Outstanding Canadian in 2023 and for both Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Canadian in 2024 based on his leadership in tackles and pass disruptions. In his return to the in 2025, Judge was named the team's Most Outstanding Defensive Player on October 22, 2025, earning unanimous selection from players and coaches for his season-leading impact, including anchoring the defense with high-volume plays that disrupted opposing offenses. As the team winner, he advanced as a nominee for the East Division Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, which was won by Julian Howsare of the . These team awards recognize players who exemplify excellence in their positional group, often determined through peer and staff voting emphasizing on-field reliability, leadership, and direct contributions to team success over the regular season.

References

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