Making your mind up: Picking a CFL team that fits for you

By Chris Lawton

As Bucks Fizz said during the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest, ‘the time’s arrived for making your mind up’. Perhaps not quite Dickensian in their prose, but the spirit of it counts here, and as they went on to sub poetically say, “Don’t let your indecision take you from behind, trust your inner vision, don’t let others change your mind”. It’s like the wisdom of the ancients wrapped in a saccharin sweet 1980s pop glitterball. Bucks fizz went on to great success, winning the contest, and having a great career. So, let’s see if we can’t find a winner for you here to make your mind up about.

Well, here at touchdown Towers in this CFL team selection article we are saying to you the choice is yours to select that winner from.  Here you will be choosing from nine teams, and we will arm you with plenty of information, so it feels a lot less like a blind choice. The CFL season will roll into combines, drafts and preseason in the coming weeks and months so this is a great time to find the team for you.

Will you find a winner? Can you find the CFL team that suits you? That is always the question when you decide on a new league and a new team to follow. Will you find a team that just fits for you? They don’t even have to win it all – it’s just about finding the right fit. The team that resonates with you the most and you would have the most fun following. Because that’s the thing with selecting a sports team to follow. You need to find an affinity. Feel a connection. Have something that makes them; However they perform, very much your team.

Addressing A Common Frustration

A lot of NFL fans complain at this time year about the long gap from the draft to the season. Why not give the CFL a go? It is a lot of fun with some great athletes and action to grab the attention. Plus, pro football in summer – who doesn’t like that? No wonder you here CFL fans say after the Grey Cup ‘Is it June yet?’ looking forward to the next year of fun.

The CFL has a great online community too, so with that in mind there are links to websites and suggestions for podcasts for fans to follow. Each team has a great presence online and the suggested links here will hopefully act as a doorway to you finding more and discovering a whole new community.

EAST DIVISION

There are 9 teams in the CFL currently. 5 in the West Division and 4 in the East Division. We will start in the East as that is the home of the reigning champions.

Toronto Argonauts

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2024: 10-8 Grey Cup Champions.

If the defending Grey Cup champions are the right choice for you, then that’s the Toronto Argonauts.

Based in Toronto, Ontario, the double blue are North America’s oldest continually playing professional football team. In fact, as they were founded in 1873, they are the oldest existing pro sports team in North America still using its original name. Not to mention the oldest-surviving team in the modern-day CFL.

The Boatmen have an all-time regular season record of 689-728-26. They finished second in the East Division standings in 2024 and defeated Ottawa then Montreal in the playoffs before defeating West Division champions Winnipeg in the Grey Cup game.

Under current head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie, they have gone 46-22 in the regular season, winning the East Division three times and playing in four consecutive East Division Finals. Over the same period, they are 5-2 in the playoffs picking up two Grey Cup wins in 2022 and 2024.

Toronto have appeared in 25 Grey Cup games winning 19. They are the reigning champions.

First Grey Cup Win: 1914. Last Grey Cup Win: 2024.

Colours: Cambridge Blue, Oxford Blue and white. Mascot: Jason

Team Website: argonauts.ca 

Suggested podcast Xs and Argos Podcast

Montreal Alouettes

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2024 – 12-5-1 Beaten in East Division Final.

Based in Montreal, Quebec, the Montreal Alouettes were founded in 1946, though the team has folded and been revived twice. The league considers all the iterations of the Alouettes as one club dating back to their founding. While the Alouettes were originally founded in 1946, the city has a much longer history with the sport dating back to 1872. That was when the Montreal Football Club was founded.

The Alouettes got off to a blistering start to their existence, going 28-18-2 over their first four seasons and winning their first Grey Cup in 1949. The Als have an all-time regular season record of 539-525-22.

For anybody who is wondering Montreal is predominantly French speaking and Alouette is French for Lark.

Under current Head Coach Jason Maas, the Alouettes are 23-12-1 and have appeared in back-to-back East Division Finals. In the playoffs at the same time, they are 3-1 and won the Grey Cup in 2023.

First Grey Cup win: 1949. Last Grey Cup win: 2023.

Colours: Blue, red and white. Mascot: Touché

Team Website: montrealalouettes.com 

Suggested podcast: Alouettes Flightdeck

Ottawa RedBlacks

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2024 – 9-8-1 Lost in the East Division Semi-Final

Based in Ottawa, Ontario, the RedBlacks were founded as recently as 2014. This is a little misleading for new fans as there has been a team in Ottawa, on and off since 1876.

The Ottawa Rough Riders were a founder member of the CFL and played up until 1996. An Ottawa Renegades team lasted only from 2002-2005. Akin to the situation with Montreal, some Ottawans see this team as the continuation of their former representatives. But the team themselves have recently had an all-decade team celebration.

The RedBlacks name came from a fan competition and is copyrighted in both English and French (Rouge et Noir).

This Ottawa team has an all-time regular season record of 64-109-3. Which is a little misleading as they went 2-16 in 2014, but the real balance of their down years was from 2019 to 2023 where they never got above 4 wins in a season and went 14-54. Happily for Ottawa fans last year they were more competitive and made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

From 2015-2018 they went 39-31-2 in the regular season and 3-1 in the playoffs. This includes 3 East Division titles, 3 Grey Cup appearances and 1 championship win.

Current Head Coach Bob Dyce was appointed near the end of the 2022 CFL season and has a 14-25-1 record in charge at the helm. 2024 was his first winning season as a CFL Head Coach.

First Grey Cup win: 2016.  Last Grey Cup win: 2016. 

(Of course, if you do accept all the Ottawa teams as one non-continuous entity, like Montreal, then their first Grey Cup win came in 1925 as the Ottawa Senators).

Colours: Red, black and white. Mascot: Big Joe

Team Website: ottawaredblacks.com 

Suggested podcast: There’s nothing current here, Muchoir was great but their last episode was in 2023; So I suggest listening to the 2 and Out CFL podcast.  

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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2024 – 7-11 Failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Based in Hamilton, Ontario, the Tiger-Cats were founded in 1950 because of a merger between the Hamilton Tigers (1861) and Hamilton Wild-Cats (1941). Those early post-merger Tiger-Cats were successful, as the team finished first or second in every year from 1950 to 1953.

While the Tiger-Cats were only founded in 1950, as we have seen football in Hamilton goes back much further than that. In fact, Hamilton has one of the oldest traditions of football in the country. Hamilton and Toronto have been playing each other in one form or another since 1873, although those early games bear little to no relation to what we see now!

Hamilton have an all-time regular season record of 574-609-17. Between 2019 and 2021 they went 23-9 but came up short in the Grey Cup game both times. They have appeared in 22 Grey Cup games since 1950, winning 8 times. Hamilton has the longest current run of any CFL team without a title having last won in 1999.

Current Ticats Head Coach Scott Milanovich was appointed last year and is 7-11 as the sideline leader of the Tabbies. Previously from 2012-2016 he coached the Argonauts winning the 2012 Grey Cup and posting an overall record of 43-47.

First Grey Cup Win: 1953.  Last Grey Cup win: 1999.

Colours: Black, gold and white. Mascot(s): Tc & Stripes as well as crowd hyper Pigskin Pete.

Team Website: ticats.ca 

Suggested podcast: Podskee Wee Wee

WEST DIVISION

Time to switch over to the West Division. There can be little doubt that this has been dominated by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over recent years.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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2024: 11-7 West Division Winners & Grey Cup runner-up.

If one of the most consistently successful squads of the last few years are the right call for you, then it’s possible that’s the Blue Bombers. The Bombers are based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1930, they are a community owned team, and ‘Big Blue’ have a very loyal fan base.

Perhaps the most recognizable name from their coaching history for NFL fans would be that of Bud Grant who won 4 Grey Cups. Before famously going on to lose 4 Superbowl’s coaching the Vikings.

Winnipeg has an all-time regular season record of 713-635-15. They have appeared in the Grey Cup 29 times and won it on 12 occasions.

As recently as 2015 the Blue Bombers were enduring a 5-13 season. Part of a four-year 21-51 run. Not to mention not having won a Grey Cup since 1990. However, of late they have become the team to beat in the West. Winning the Grey Cup in 2019 & 2021 as well as appearing in five consecutive Grey Cup games.

Current Head Coach Mike O’Shea, (a CFL Hall of Famer as a player), is the winningest coach in Blue Bombers history with a 107-69 record. He has taken Winnipeg to five consecutive Grey Cup games and is 2-3 in those games.

First Grey Cup Win: 1935. Last Grey Cup Win: 2021.

Colours: Royal blue, gold and white. Mascot(s): Buzz and Boomer

Team Website: bluebombers.com 

Suggested podcast: Ray & Benny Talk Sports

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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2024 – 9-8-1, second in the West Division, beaten in the West Division Final.

Based in Regina, Saskatchewan the Roughriders were founded in 1910. Alongside Winnipeg, Saskatchewan are another of the community owned teams in the league.

The Riders are the 3rd oldest pro football team in existence behind the Arizona Cardinals and the CFL’s own Argonauts. 

More Rider merchandise is sold than any other sports team in Canada with the exceptions of the Toronto Maple Leafs & Montreal Canadiens.

Saskatchewan has a pretty rabid fan base who have a tradition all of their own – the carved-out watermelon worn on their heads! You will often find someone in a ‘Rider jersey in a sports crowd – and not just CFL games.

I believe they have the largest fan base in the CFL. Invariably if somebody goes on social media & decides to support a team based on how many responses they get from each franchise’s fans they will end up supporting Saskatchewan!

The Roughriders have an all-time regular season record of 623-649-24. They have appeared in the Grey Cup on 19 occasions and won it 4 times. They last won it all in 2013.

Current Head Coach Corey Mace Had his first year in charge in Saskatchewan last year and following back-to-back 6-12 seasons he got them back on track with a 9-8-1 season and came within one game of taking them to the Grey Cup.

First Grey Cup Win: 1966. Last Grey Cup Win: 2013.

Colours: Green and white. Mascot: Gainer the Gopher

Team Website: riderville.com 

Suggested podcast: Piffles Podcast

BC Lions

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2024 – 9-9 Beaten in West Division Semi-Final.

Based in British Columbia, Vancouver the Lions were established in 1954. The BC Lions fan-base is one of the smaller ones alongside Toronto and Montreal. However, relatively new team owner Amar Doman has been hard at work improving that.

Vancouver is one of the few CFL cities with an NHL team, an MLS team, and a sizable NFL fan-base. According to fan forums the most popular NFL team in Vancouver is the Seahawks by some margin, but that doesn’t mean they don’t support BC too.

The Leos have an all-time regular season record of 582-586-24. They have appeared in the Grey Cup 10 times and won it on 6 occasions. 

Throughout this century the Lions have been consistently competitive without ever achieving dominance.

Current Head Coach Buck Pierce has arrived from the Blue Bombers and will be a rookie Head Coach this year. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion, having won twice as an assistant Coach with Winnipeg, and once as a player with the Lions back in 2006.

First Grey Cup Win: 1964. Last Grey Cup Win: 2011.

Colours: Orange, black and white. Mascot: Leo the Lion

Team Website: bclions.com 

Suggested podcast: 1standnow Do also Check out the Lions’ produced series Arrow Up.

Edmonton Elks

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2024 – 7-11 Fourth in the West Division. Failed to Qualify for the playoffs.

Based in Edmonton, Alberta, the Elks were founded in 1949. For much of that time they were known as the Eskimos. Edmonton announced their name rebrand in 2021. The rebrand has been generally well received.

They were a community owned team until August of last year when Larry Thompson, a long-time fan and shareholder, became the first private owner in the club’s history. A history of success has left them with a loyal fan base. Their colour and uniform choice was decided for them as they started out with hand me down uniforms from the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

NFL fans will probably recognize the name Warren Moon, who helped lead them to 5 straight championships from 1978-82.

Edmonton has an all-time regular season record of 703-545-18. They have appeared in the Grey Cup 23 times and won it on 14 occasions. They last won it all in 2015.

Edmonton hold the distinction for the longest run of making the playoffs for any North American sports team – an incredible 34 years between 1972 and 2005.

Current Head Coach Mark Kilam will be a rookie Head Coach this coming season. He is a three-time Grey Cup champion from his time as an assistant Coach with the Stampeders.

First Grey Cup Win: 1954. Their Last Grey Cup Win: 2015.

Colours: Green, gold & white. Mascot(s): Spike & Punter

Team Website: esks.com 

Suggested podcast: The Turf District Podcast

Calgary Stampeders

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2024 – 5-12-1 Last in the West Division and Failed to Qualify for the playoffs.

Based in Calgary, Alberta the Stampeders were founded in 1945 although they are part of a football tradition in the city that dates to 1909.

Like the idea of an unbeaten team? Perhaps the Stamps are the right call for you. In 1948 the Stampeders became only the second Western Division team to win the Grey Cup. That year, including playoffs they finished 14-0-1 and to this day the ’48 Stamps remain the only undefeated team in CFL history.

Formerly community owned, following financial difficulties they were put into private hands in 1991 and have been privately owned since.

Before Winnipeg rose to the top, the Stamps were the most dominant team in recent CFL history. They appeared in the playoffs 18 years in a row. From 2012-2018 they appeared in 7 consecutive Western Finals and won 5 of them and therefore appeared in 5 Grey Cup games. They had last had a losing season in 2007 before going 6-12 in 2023 and 5-12-1 in 2024.

Had they had a winning season in 2023 they would have become the first CFL team ever to have a record above .500 for 15 consecutive seasons. It wasn’t to be.

The Stampeders have an all-time regular season record of 704-568-22. They have appeared in 17 Grey Cup games and won it all on 8 occasions.

Current Head Coach Dave Dickenson is in the Hall of Fame as a player and will be in his ninth season as Head Coach of the Stamps. He has amassed an 84-53-3 regular season record at the helm as well as having a 4-6 playoff record which includes three Grey Cup appearances (2016-2018) with one victory coming in 2018.

First Grey Cup Win: 1948. Their last Grey Cup Win 2018.

Colours: Red, white and black. Mascot: Ralph the Dog

Team Website: stampeders.com 

Suggested podcast: Horse Power podcast

CHRIS LAWTON

CFL ANALYST

Chris originally started following the NFL with the ‘first wave’ of fans when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980’s. He has been a keen supporter of the Miami Dolphins since 1983. Chris first encountered the CFL in 2016 and instantly fell in love with the Canadian game. He has been writing about the CFL 2017. Chris has a degree in history, postgraduate degree in librarianship and can be found on twitter as @CFLfanUK

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