King Solomon – Elimimian remains the only Defensive MOP in CFL history

By Chris Lawton

The biggest story in American football right now is the Seattle Seahawks dominant win in Super Bowl LX. But for me at least the minute the confetti falls on the winning team, I am thinking about the next season. In my case the 2026 CFL season. The end of a season is also a time for reminiscing too. So, while NFL fans and media look to compare the Seahawks D with other great defensive performances in the big game, my mind, already attuned to the CFL  started thinking about great defence in the 3-down league. From which, one name sprang to mind. Solomon Elimimian.

Back in 2014 Solomon Elimimian was named the CFL MOP (Most Outstanding Player). Which doesn’t sound so surprising on paper. After all, The CFL had been giving out MOP awards  every year since the 1950’s.

But this was different. Because Elimimian was the first purely defensive player to win the league’s Most Outstanding Player Award. He remains the only purely defensive player to attain this feat too.

Much like the NFL MVP award – the CFL MOP award favours the offensive side of the ball. Particularly rewarding top quarterback play. Of the 72 Most Outstanding Players in CFL history, 43 have been quarterbacks and reigning MOP Nathan Rourke added to that list in 2025. In fact, since 1998 the quarterback position has won the award 19 of 26 times.

So how did Solomon do it? And was he the first or only defensive player to be considered? Let’s take a look.

The Season of Solomon - Elimimian's MOP Year

The former Hawaii Rainbow Warrior was in his fourth year with the BC Lions when he was voted league MOP in 2014. Solomon Elimimian – a leader on the BC Lions. The year Elimimian won the MOP award he also won the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. Having won the Most Outstanding Rookie in 2010, this made him the first player in league history to win three different individual CFL awards.

That season he broke the CFL’s all-time single season record for defensive tackles with 143, and went further, surpassing the total tackles tally with 151. (143 defensive tackles and 8 special teams tackles). He also notched 5 sacks, 1 interception and 2 forced fumbles.

How dominant a performance was this? Well, if we look at the stats from that year, the nearest defensive player was Bear Woods with 94 total tackles! Meaning Solomon was hitting 3 more tackles per game than even his closest competitor.

Beyond the MOP Season

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He would go on to record 867 career tackles, (831 defensive & 36 on special teams). Plus 32 career sacks, 8 interceptions and 9 forced fumbles.

Elimimian would pick up a second Most Outstanding Defensive Player award in 2016. That year he again led the league in total tackles with 130 (129 defensive and 1 special teams). Although Bear Woods was behind him again, this time he was a lot closer at 126 tackles.

No Longer a Lion

After nine seasons in BC, Solomon Elimimian was let go after the 2018 season. He was officially released in April 2019. Leaving the Lions as their all-time tackles leader (745 tackles in 118 games).

He subsequently signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for his final CFL season. Despite missing some games he recorded 88 tackles, forced a fumble and had 8 sacks.

For all the personal glory perhaps the greatest moment in his career came in 2011. As part of the last BC Lions team to lift a Grey Cup.  

Solomon Elimimian was a six-time Western All-Star (2011, 2013-14, 2016-17 & 2019), and a four-time CFL All-Star (2011, 2014 & 2016-17).

Garney Henley - Offensive MOP, but also Considered as a DB?

As noted above, the CFL MOP award is dominated by offensive talent. The only other MOP winner with any defensive connections is Hal Patterson. Who won the 1956 Schenley Award for Most Outstanding Player listed as a DB/Offensive End. That season Patterson had 5 interceptions.

But let’s be honest. His incredible offensive production was what won the accolade. In 1956 he had 88 catches for 1,914 yards (21.8 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns in a 14-game season. It remains one of the great pass catching seasons in CFL history.

But one man was considered for the award listed as solely a defensive player. Meet Hamilton great Garner Henley. Henley was named MOP runner up in 1965. A year he was prominently playing defensive back. That year he had 5 interceptions, 2 going for touchdowns and had 67 punt returns covering over 550 yards. Although he was a Swiss army knife type of player who did all sorts throughout his career this was not a season of great offensive output.

Henley would be named league MOP in 1972. That year however he was listed as a wide receiver. In fact, he rushed 4 times for 70 yards and a touchdown, caught 36 passes for 881 yards and 7 touchdowns and returned four punts for 32 yards over a 14-game season.

As great as Patterson and Henley were, Solomon Elimimian stands alone. The only purely defensive player to be named CLF MOP. Will we see another?

As ever, it will be fun to watch what happens on the playing fields of the CFL and find out.

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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