Being a CFL starting quarterback is not a safe profession, and Cameron Dukes learned that the hard way.
Former Toronto Argonaut recently sat down with the Carter Code podcast discuss his career. Among the revelations was that he received threats against himself and his family while he was the team's 2024 quarterback.
“I’m telling you, for someone who never had to worry about the media — I went to a small school, man — this was the first time I had to look at this,” Dukes said. “I get death threats. I get people talking about hanging my parents. I get it in a box (sic) and you know what? I still have screenshots, baby.”
The 27-year-old played nine games for Toronto in 2024, holding down the fort while franchise quarterback Chad Kelly served a suspension for violating the CFL's gender-based violence and harassment policy. He went 4-5 that season and successfully kept the team afloat by completing 71.9 percent of his passes for 1,444 yards with seven touchdowns against six interceptions, while also rushing 57 times for 321 yards and four punts.
However, Concerns about Dukes' quality of play led to Kelly being demoted to the third line upon Kelly's return, and it was Nick Arbuckle who eventually got the start in the team's Gray Cup victory. When the results went against him, Dukes sensed a shift among fans and began receiving threats on social media.
“I'm building what I think is going to be a career in Toronto because of what I do, what I give to the organization and what I put into it. It just feels right to be here because I'm putting money into it. I go out and produce. And then you have one bad game and it's like everyone completely forgets who you were all along and creates this different scenario for you,” he noted.
“What the fans don't realize is that you would never tell us this in person, but I'm using everything you say right now as fuel. This shit motivates me, man.”
The Shepherdsville, Kentucky native was no stranger to threats, but he was familiar with disrespect during his time with the Argonauts.
The 6-foot, 210-pound prop's collegiate resume included a national championship win and three All-America selections, but those accolades came from tiny Lindsey Wilson University in the NAIA. Even after a successful run in the Indoor Football League, few expected the Dukes to make it in the CFL, including those associated with the team.
“All the time I hear: 'He's a camp helper,' 'He's just coming to throw the ball and they'll let him go.' The media in Toronto say: “His type of play is erratic.” The thing is, these were real people from the Argos podcast. Like, brother, what are you talking about? You should be on my team,” he recalled.
“Come on. Guess what? I don't need anyone here to believe in me. I need one person, yes, and that's me, because I'm the one who wakes up with me. I'm the one who goes to the institution. I do the work. I'm the one who goes home at night to myself. I don't need anyone to believe in me. I laugh at all these people who post these things about me.”
Dukes proved his doubters wrong by starting all 18 games as the primary reserve in 2023, including a pair of starts. After scoring in his first start against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, he let everyone see the chip on his shoulder as the message screamed into the camera lens: “I bet you know now.”
In this case, the fighting words were directed against the enemy, and not against his own organization.
Winnipeg was the first team I thought, “Man, I might have a chance.” Like, “I know I’m coming here, they can pick me up.” And then I heard a rumor that people in the organization didn't want me because of where I played in college. Quote, remove quotes: “He looks like a boy among men, but he hasn’t played against anyone.” “I’m sitting here thinking, maybe y’all think I haven’t played against anyone, but I was given this opportunity,” Dukes said.
“That's why I said it… I hope the person who said it in Winnipeg saw it and knew exactly who I was talking to.”
Dukes' tenure with Toronto ended on June 1, when he was released as part of final training camp cuts. After a three-week stint with the Montreal Alouettes in 2025, he remains a CFL free agent and is currently looking for his next opportunity.
Despite the crowds of doubters and the outright anger he experienced from some fans, the 2024 Gray Cup champion is grateful for every element of his professional career.
“If I never lose to others, thank God for that experience because now whenever I coach, I can give that experience. Now I can let people know what to expect and how to handle situations,” Dukes said. “I just take everything in like a sponge, trying to absorb each and every experience so I can pass it on to people.”
