2025 has been a busy year in CFL news, filled with exciting storylines and unprecedented events.
The League appointed its 15th Commissioner, Stuart Johnston. generally positive reviewsjust to have it unilateral decision to modernize the game fuel disputes for several months. Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke recovers from NFL hangover win Most Outstanding PlayerBut not before the war with this new commissar begins. We mourned the loss of Hamilton Tiger-Cats general manager Ted Goveiacelebrated U Sports quarterback reaching NFLwitnessed Two-time Gray Cup winning head coach trades to division rivaland discussed whether BC Lions owner Amar Doman is ciThe screenshot shows a soccer ball or elbow.
3DownNation covered all this and more, leading to our annual list of the year's 10 best stories. Our regular readers let us know with their clicks and comments what topics really excite them, and as always, this year's list was varied and full of surprises.
While we wait for midnight tonight, let's look back at the year that featured our most popular articles.
10. The game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders has been officially postponed due to poor air quality. JC Abbott
Games postponed or jeopardized by wildfire smoke have become commonplace in recent years, but things took an unprecedented turn in week six when air quality at Mosaic Stadium forced the game to be postponed for the first time. Riders QB Trevor Harris called for changes to the CFL weather protocol after teams were forced to wait nearly four hours before the power was cut. CFLPA praises league's decision to make player safety a priority. Game was played the next daywith fans You are allowed to bring your own food due to the inability to restock on siteetche Stampeders dealt with adversity better than anyone elsewinning with a score of 24-10.
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9. All nine CFL teams react to whether fans canceled tickets due to rule change. John Hodge
Randy Ambrosie, what? widely criticized during his tenure as CFL commissionerbut Stuart Johnston provoked such fury that his predecessor could hardly have imagined when he made radical changes to the three-down game. For Canadian Football Traditionalists the thought of a field without a 55-yard line was unbearable.and social networks were flooded with threats from longtime fans that as a result they will cancel their season tickets. 3DownNation decided to determine how many actually completed the job? contacted all nine franchises and the general consensus was that the bark was worse than the bite to their bottom line. However, only time will tell whether ticket sales and television ratings will decline or decline. once all these changes take effect in 2027.
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8. Commissioner Stuart Johnston to announce “significant changes” to CFL play. Justin Dank
The order of this list may provide a valuable lesson for the CFL front office, as their vague announcement that there would be changes to the game drew more traffic than the press conference it teased or any subsequent debate. Speculation has become rampant, and although real changes were not as dramatic as many fearedthe damage has already been done. Opinions vary greatly when rules changewith players and fans sitting on both sidesBut Johnston admitted that he failed the implementation To not clear enough on sacking four downs. Americanization fears reach record highThe league appears to have missed an opportunity to appease the hardcore with more transparency.
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7. Highest-paid CFL players at every position in 2025. Justin Dank
Money talks and fans listen, which is why our annual series highlights highest paid players at each position makes numbers consistently. This look at the best Americans and Canadians at every position topped the charts this year and comes amid major financial changes in the league. The income distribution model enshrined in the collective agreement has led to This is the second largest salary cap increase in league history.although there are problems with late time for this announcement And confusion over how new funds will be distributed led some teams spend conservatively. That won't happen this season, and we've already seen stars like Brady Oliveira, Keon HatcherAnd Samuel Emilus. You can bet that all of these players will be included in the next edition of this article in 2026.
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6. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew refuses to hold a Riders jersey and makes a Bombers hand gesture in a photo of the First Ministers meeting JC Abbott
We cover more than just sports 3DownNationwe deliver as well as heavy political benefits! Wab Kinew's refusal to don Rider green while other premiers happily accepted a CFL-themed gift from Saskatchewan's Scott Moe certainly scored him brownie points in Manitoba, although it wasn't his first expression of love for the Bombers. NDP politician was forced to apologize earlier this yearr after he was accused of violating a conflict of interest on the team's charter flight for the last two Gray Cups. This year he didn't have to fly anywhere for the big game as Winnipeg hosted it the same week. he was in a meeting with Prime Minister Mark CarneyAnd both were present.
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5. How much did each Saskatchewan Roughriders player pay to win the Gray Cup? JC Abbott
CFL fans are a special breed because instead of spend Christmas offline and tens of thousands of you, surrounded by family, scrolled through our site for details on playoff rewards. The riders didn't do it just make history And become local legends with your fifth-ever Gray Cup victory; they also received a good salary. These figures are enshrined in the collective agreement and have not changed. as part of the recent salary cap increasealthough the CFLPA would like to see this change at some point in the future. This may be what the union thinks they are weighing their options to exit the current CBA after next season.
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4. 'This Can't Be Happening': ESPN Anchor Pat McAfee Shocked After Canada Beats USA in Flag Football Friendly JC Abbott
There are 926 days left until the start of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but Canada's national flag soccer team is already making headlines. on the way to qualification. After hiring of longtime CFL coach Paul LaPolice Leading the men's program, their loss to the United States in a friendly in June left ESPN shock jock Pat McAfee in amazement. The USA took revenge at the IFAF continental championship in American flag football in Panama, but Canada won bronze in the men's and silver in the women's. to qualify for next year's World Championships. This is their first chance to officially get a ticket to Los Angeles, where CFL players are officially allowed to participate in competitions – although that remains to be seen how many people will actually make up the team?.
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3. 'Never again': Stampeders RB Dedrick Mills vows not to spend another off-season in Canada after cold winter in Calgary JC Abbott
CFL players come from across the continent and around the world, but many choose put down permanent roots in the city where they play. Not so for Dedrick Mills, who found his stint in Calgary this offseason too cold to repeat. His jokey statement during training camp that he couldn't handle another Canadian winter drew harsh criticism on social media and propelled the light-hearted article up our yearly charts. The Waycross, Georgia native may have since reconsidered his stance as the offseason jitters led to undeniable results as he led the league in rushing. earned All-CFL honorsAnd signed a multi-year contract extension in 2025.
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2. Matt Dunigan not returning to CFL on TSN: sources John Hodge
The most talked about deal of the 2025 CFL season was not Signing a free agent, tradeor NFL expansionBut rather a change in TSN. League television rights holder have taken steps to update their broadcasts this seasonand that included saying goodbye to longtime panelist Matt Dunigan after 24 seasons at the table. No explanation was given for the sequel. from the Canadian Football Hall of Fameand many fans mourned his passing. Veteran coach and personnel executive Jim Barker was also not hired by the network, although he has since is finding his feet as the new director of player personnel for the Toronto Argonauts..
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1. 'Zach Collaros should never play football again': Milt Stegall calls for Bombers QB to retire after Banjo Bowl exit JC Abbott
When a legend like Milt Stegall speaks, people tend to listen. This was definitely the case when he weighed in after Zach Collaros was dropped out of the Banjo Bowl due to a head injury – his third early exit of the season – and said the two-time Most Outstanding Player should hang up his boots. due to his history of concussions. Stegall framed this advice as something he would say to Collaros if he were his father, which carried added emotional weight. in light of the tragic passing of his son Chasebefore the start of the season. Not everyone appreciated the comments especially Bombers head coach Mike O'Sheaalthough the defender himself received them calmly upon their return three weeks later. Collaros has made it clear that he has no intention of retiringand disagreements over his future haven't stopped two Winnipeg icons collaboration on the TV show Gray Cup.
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