The Last CFL Threepeat - And Why It Isn't A Trilogy

By Chris Lawton

It may seem strange to start an article about the last CFL threepeat by focusing on the NFL right now, but stay with me here, it all makes sense I promise! You see, it’s the NFL that got me to thinking about the last CFL threepeat, and that is because the Kansas City Chiefs are two games away from becoming the first team to threepeat in the Superbowl era and the first team to threepeat since the Green Bay Packers won three NFL titles between 1965 and 1967.

Coincidentally, the Packers also won three in a row between 1929 and 1931 back when it was all decided on league standings alone. It would make for some interesting historical symmetry if the Chiefs were to do what the Packers did, and no other team has ever managed, as it would mean that both teams from Super Bowl I managed it and that the first NFL team and last pre-merger AFL team to win a Super Bowl would have some shared history.

If you’ve come across Douglas Adam’s classic sic-fi/comedy book series the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, then you’ll know the answer to the universe is 42. But did you know what started out as a “trilogy” ended up being six books? Five by Adams before he passed, and a final addition by Eoin Colfer some years later.

Which means that book series is the perfect tenuous analogy here, because for Edmonton it was not really a threepeat. It was a ‘five-peat.’ (Does that work? When did the term threepeat gain traction anyway?) I digress. Back to the point. Just as the original Hitchhiker’s trilogy was inaptly named as it brought out 5 books, then a 6th edition not as well-regarded, Edmonton racked up 5 championships and made 6 straight appearances in the Grey Cup game.

But in 1980 nobody knew this. Just that this was Edmonton’s third straight title. Just as we sit not knowing what the future holds for the Chiefs right now.

Winnipeg recently had a chance to be the first team to win three straight Grey Cup titles since 1980. To threepeat if you will. But after winning the 2019 and 2021 Grey Cup games (the 2020 season was lost to Covid-19), they fell at the final hurdle, losing in a thrilling 2022 Grey Cup. A fate KC fans will want to avoid in their run at history.

The Last CFL Threepeat Team

The 1970’s had been a fun time to be a football fan in Edmonton. During the decade, the then named Esks had gone 97-55-8. That had led to six Grey Cup appearances and three wins. That success overlapped into the Early 1980’s with two more titles in an unprecedented run of five.

The biggest run of success was from 1977-1982. The team would be dominant going 70-21-5 and converting that into six straight Grey Cup appearances (they lost in 1977) and five straight wins.

By 1980, Edmonton were coming off a 13-3 regular season. After losing the Grey Cup match in 1977 Edmonton had won 2 more and were challenging for another in 1980.
Over that three year span they would go 35-9-4. They had won against Montreal 20-13 and 17-9 in back-to-back title matches. But in 1980 it was Hamilton who stood in their way. They blew them away with ease 48-10.

The 1980 Grey Cup Game

Edmonton managed their second franchise three-peat with a dominant performance from start to finish in this one. In 1980 they were undoubtedly the best team in the league and this performance just underlined that fact.

The 1980 Grey Cup game was far from being a classic. It was one of the biggest blowouts in CFL championship history. In fact, the 38-point margin was second only to the 1923 game when Queens University topped Regina Rugby Club 54-0 when the Grey Cup had been a strictly amateur event.

Warren Moon went 21 of 33 for 398 yards and 3 TD’s to pick up the Outstanding Offensive Player award. On their way to the 48-10-win Edmonton compiled 606 yards of offence compared to Hamilton’s 201 yards.

The dominance was reflected by Edmonton being up 10-3 after one quarter, 24-9 at halftime, and 34-10 after three. Edmonton never let up. This remains the most recent Grey Cup in which one team did not score a touchdown. All of Hamilton’s points were scored by kicker Bernie Ruoff (three Field Goals and one rouge).

Referee Don Barker called the game with four seconds remaining, as celebrating fans had by that point come on to the field of play. Those four seconds made scant difference to the result!

It's An Edmonton Thing - Up To Now

In the ‘modern era’ of the CFL, the threepeat has only been done twice – so far. Both by Edmonton. Because as well as the ‘five-peat’ teams, the Esks also generated three consecutive titles between 1954 and 1956.

Those Edmonton teams went 36-12 over three seasons. Edmonton would go an impressive 71-24-1 run between 1952 and 1957. That would include 4 Grey Cup appearances (they were runners up in 1952 as well as recording these wins).

The only other team to come close? The Winnipeg Blue Bombers between 1958 and 1962. From 1957 to 1962 the Blue Bombers were on a tear in the CFL. Led by Head Coach Bud Grant they recorded a 75-21 regular season run. Which translated into 5 Grey Cup appearances (they were runners up in 1957) and four wins.

Some Interesting History

How much does sports history crossover? Only two coaches have ever been named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The aforementioned Grant who had come so close to a five-peat in the CFL and who lost 4 super Bowl games with the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, and Marv Levy who led the Montreal Alouettes to two Grey Cup titles, including the 1977 game that triggered Edmonton on their way to five wins over the next five years. Now the Buffalo Bills will attempt to halt the Chiefs in their tracks – the team Levy famously took to four consecutive Super Bowl defeats. Oh yes, and Levy started his NFL head Coaching career leading…the Kansas City Chiefs!

Is there any wonder all this NFL/CFL history crossover for multiple championship game teams got me thinking back to the last CFL threepeat really? It has been 57 years since a threepeat in the NFL and 44 years since a threepeat in the CFL. Winnipeg came so close to changing that narrative. Now it will be interesting to see what happens with KC and their run at the NFL version of a threepeat.

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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