Canadian Football’s Quirky Playoffs, Part I: Tie Schedules and Challenge Cups in 1884 Here is the first in a series of articles about some of the playoff formats used in the CFL and early Canadian football. canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/05/13/c... #cfl

If you think the new playoff system coming in 2027 is "interesting" wait until you get a load of the playoff systems used by the Canadian Rugby Football Union in 1884. I'm working on an article on the ORFU and QRFU 1884 competitions. A bit confusing and convoluted...and anti-climatic. #cfl

The new CFL playoff system coming in 2027 increases the chances of two eastern teams or two western teams playing in the Grey Cup championship. How important is it to have an East vs. West Grey Cup? I don't know the answer to that question.

While the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union first held a formal draft for Canadian players in 1953, the first national draft was held in 1956. Canadians from six universities were selected by teams in both the IRFU and the Western Interprovincial Football Union. #cfl

The First Canadian Football Drafts Today is draft day in the CFL. Here's a look back at the 1953 Canadian football draft held by the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/04/29/t...

Tomorrow, the CFL will hold its annual Canadian draft. The first "official" Canadian draft was held in 1953 by the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. Doug McNichol, from the University of Western Ontario, was the first pick overall. He was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. #cfl

The #Alouettes will be celebrating their 80th anniversary in 2026. The team was founded on May 20, 1946. #AlsMTL #CFL

Thirty years ago today, Dave Ridgway aka Robokicker retired after playing 14 seasons in the Canadian Football League. He played a whopping 238 games in the CFL, all with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. #cfl #riders canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/04/24/r...

One of the ideas I had back in 2012 was to have a message from The Queen in the 100th Grey Cup program. 2012 was the 100th Grey Cup and The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. I was ecstatic when everyone agreed to make it happen. #cfl

Today would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday. Here are some photos of Her Majesty enjoying some Canadian football. (1) WIFU game in Edmonton 1951 (2) CFL game in Ottawa 1977 (3) With Tiger-Cat Terry Evanshen 1977. Photos courtesy of City of Edmonton Archives and Cdn FB Research Soc.

It's Dave Ridgway week here at Canadian Football History, marking 30 years since the man they called "Robokicker" retired. Here's an account in the Regina Leader-Post from the Roughriders' training camp in 1982 about newcomer Ridgeway earning praise from head coach Joe Faragalli. #cfl #riders

Happy Friday. I'm working on a story for next week about Dave Ridgeway. It's been 30 years since Robokicker retired. He played in 238 games over 14 years as the kicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. #cfl

On this day in 1912, the Titanic sank off the coast of Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg the night before. 1600 people lost their lives in the disaster including Hugo Ross, who was the honorary president of the Western Canadian Rugby Football Union. #titanic #cfl

The legendary Wally Buono, keeping in shape in preparation for training camp, along with his Great Dane. (Montreal Gazette, 24 April 1976) #cfl

QB/P Jack Jacobs played 5 seasons for the Blue Bombers (1950-1954) He was the Bombers' first true passing QB He retired in August 1955 to become an advance scout for the Blue Bombers #ForTheW

In 1945, the Western Interprovincial Football Union resumed play. Calgary's new team was named the "Stampeders" instead of the Bronks, their former WIFU entry. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/22/s...

In April 1997, the CFL entered into a multiyear partnership with the National Football League. #cfl

Calgary Tigers First Winners of the Hugo Ross Trophy canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/04/09/c... #cfl

As the CFL preseason approaches, and discussion of new rules heats up, my latest Substack piece looks at Thrift Burnside and the "Burnside rules". open.substack.com/pub/jamesefr...

Calgary Tigers First Winners of the Hugo Ross Trophy canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/04/09/c... #cfl

In 1948, when the Hamilton Wildcats left the Ontario Rugby Football Union for the Big Four, it could've been the death knell for the ORFU. Reduced to just three teams, the country's oldest football league was in trouble. Then, the Hamilton Tigers took the Wildcats' place. The ORFU carried on.

A look back at the CFL's first commissioner... #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/04/23/c...

Five teams in the Big Four? Not an April Fool's joke. In 1948 the Hamilton Tigers quit the IRFU, setting off a dramatic chain of events that would find the IRFU in the embarrassing position of inadvertently having two Hamilton teams in the league. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/04/01/t...

Here's an ad from 2001 for Canoe/Slam Sports promoting the websites for the CFL, Tiger-Cats, Alouettes, and Argonauts. #cfl

Let's explore the early days of the CFL on the World Wide Web... canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/26/t... #cfl #oldinternet #nostalgia

This week, we're going back to the CFL's early days on the World Wide Web. New blog post coming tomorrow. #cfl

Time to revisit the series of posts I did last year on the stories behind the names of each of the CFL's nine teams. First up - the British Columbia Lions. “Lions” New Moniker of B.C.’s WIFU Team canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/21/l... #cfl

Here's the latest article on Canadian Football History: "1955 East-West Game a Success" canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/11/1... #cfl

This week, we're going back to 1955 and the very first East-West all-star game in Canadian football. Sponsored by the Shriners, the game was played between all-stars from the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU). #cfl

ICYMI, here's the latest article on Canadian Football History. "CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada" canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/05/c... #cfl

Here's the latest article on Canadian Football History "CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada" canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/05/c... #cfl

On June 24, 1994, the Shreveport Pirates hosted the Baltimore CFL Colts in a preseason game at Independence Stadium. Here's a picture of the stadium scoreboard published in the Shreveport Times. This was a few weeks before a court injunction prevented Baltimore from using the name "Colts." #cfl

Pirate Ball was a weekly publication of the Shreveport Times, a guide to the Shreveport Pirates and the CFL. Here is the cover of the first issue previewing the Pirates' first ever regular season game in Ottawa. The Rough Riders defeated the Pirates 40-10. #cfl

Here's the latest article on Canadian Football History. "Pirate Ball Comes to the CFL" In 1994 and 1995, the Shreveport Pirates played in the CFL. They ceased operations when the CFL ended its U.S. expansion. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/27/p...

A final CFL USA themed article is coming (hopefully tomorrow). This one is all about the Shreveport Pirates. The Pirates played their home games at Independence Stadium for two seasons (1994 and 1995). #cfl

Happy Friday! Here's a photo of two cheerleading legends in football: Paul Weiler (RIP) aka Pigskin Pete and Len “The Big Wheel” Burrier.

Fancy a bit of CFL history? Fancy Rugby? Follow these lineages to see how the CFL was shaped today via its rugby roots. When did you start following your team? Ps. 🍪& a 🥃 If you were can recall a match from IRFU/WIFU days and share it with us below. #cfl #history #Rugby

A Fan Remembers the Baltimore Stallions Here's the latest from Canadian Football History. There's a story within the story about Hamilton's Pigskin Pete meeting Baltimore's Big Wheel. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/11/a...

Black History Month - #Roughriders #CFL Note: Calgary Stampeders protest of Gabe Patterson (and Stan Stasica) was about whether or not they were signed by the CRU deadline of August 26, 1947. The CRU confirmed they were & issued them player cards. www.riderville.com/2026/02/06/b...

It's Super Bowl weekend in the NFL. I did this little comparison between the Super Bowl and the Grey Cup last year. Our Grey Cup stacks up quite nicely. #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/04/t...

Ever wonder how and when the Toronto Argonauts desegregated? Of course you have! Fortunately for you, I have contributed something on that very subject to argonauts.ca, helping the club to mark Black History Month. www.argonauts.ca/2026/02/05/b...

Here's the latest article from Canadian Football History: "CFL Adds More American Teams" From Baltimore, Maryland to Las Vegas, Nevada, to Shreveport, Louisiana...looking back at the CFL's U.S.-based teams from the 90s... canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/04/c...

This week, as we continue to look back at the CFL's expansion into the United States, we'll focus on the Baltimore CFL Colts / Stallions. Have some great stories and photos to share...

I've updated the Links page on the CFH website. Check out these great sites for some great CFL and Canadian football content. canadianfootballhistory.ca/links/

When the CFL expanded into the United States in the early 1990s, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the lone dissenting vote. They were labelled "dinosaurs" by some for being opposed to change.

Here's the latest from Canadian Football History: "Winnipeg Leads Opposition to CFL American Expansion" canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/01/21/w... Thanks to @edtaitwfc.bsky.social for sharing his memories of the CFL's U.S. expansion experiment in the 1990s. #cfl

Today in Canadian Football History... The Canadian Football League was formally established in Winnipeg upon the merger of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (aka the Big Four) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union. Sydney Halter was named the CFL’s first commissioner. #cfl

The CFL Expands to the USA And we're back. Happy New Year! Here is the latest article from Canadian Football History... canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/01/07/t... #cfl

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025... "The Terry Fox Kickoff: 45 Years Later" #CFL canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/06/25/t...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025... "The Founding of the Canadian Rugby Union" #cfl canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/07/30/t...