Josh Freeman is not giving up on his professional football career.

The former Buccaneers quarterback signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Freeman has not played since the 2015 season, but attended minicamp with the Calgary Stampeders last year.


Freeman, 29, was the 17th overall pick by the Buccaneers in the 2009 NFL Draft. The former Kansas State signal-caller struggled as a rookie, but had a promising second season. He threw for 3,451 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the Bucs to a 10-6 record. While he threw for 3,592 yards in 2011, his touchdowns decreased to 16 while his number of interceptions skyrocketed to 22. The 6-6, 240-pound Kansas City native eclipsed 4,000 passing yards in 2013, throwing a career-high 27 touchdowns with 17 picks.

After a disappointing start to the 2013 season, Freeman was benched in favor of Mike Glennon. The Bucs tried to trade Freeman, but had no takers and ultimately released him in early October. He was signed by the Vikings and started a single game, throwing for 190 yards and an interception on 20-of-53 passing.

He was released following the 2013 season and claimed by the Giants, who released him a month after signing him. Freeman was without a team during the 2014 season and remained unsigned until the the Dolphins signed him in April 2015. Miami released him prior to the start of the season, but the Colts inked him late in the year after an injury to starter Andrew Luck. Freeman started one game, going 15 of 28 for 149 yards with a touchdown and interception in a 30-24 win over the Titans Jan. 3, 2016.


He hasn't appeared in any competitive game since. When he had his tryout with the Stampeders, Calgary general manager said Freeman "showed tremendous arm strength, an excellent touch on the deep balls, and excellent footwork."
Freeman will compete for a job in Montreal, where former North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant is the incumbent starter. The Alouettes went 3-15 last season with Drew Willy, Matthew Shiltz and Antonio Pipkin all taking snaps