CFL closes investigation into alleged Argonauts tampering with Riders’ Corey Mace

The CFL has completed its investigation of the Toronto Argonauts for allegedly violating the league's tampering policy, although the outcome remains unclear.

“The league was investigating an allegation of tampering against the Toronto Argonauts. The matter is closed,” a CFL spokesperson wrote in a statement to the Toronto Argonauts. 3DownNation. “As a matter of CFL policy, the league does not announce disciplinary actions involving teams or personnel.”

This became known on Monday, November 24. Mace refused to give an interview to Argos for the role of head coach and additional title in football activities. The next day, Saskatchewan general manager Jeremy O'Day confirmed that Mays was not leaving the organization, but denied that Toronto ever formally asked permission to speak with him.

“[The Argonauts] “Didn't call,” O'Day said at the time. “Nobody asked for permission, so I'm not entirely sure where it came from, but when we found out about it, Corey told us he wasn't interested in going anywhere – but they didn't ask us for permission.”

When asked to comment on the investigation, the Roughriders returned to O'Day's remarks and noted that they had nothing more to add.

The Argonauts refused. 3DownNation'Please comment on the results of the investigation. The organization recently decided not renew assistant general manager John Murphy's contract although it remains unclear whether the two situations are related.

Teams are reportedly required to pass a 10-day window before approaching a Gray Cup-winning franchise to interview potential candidates for the job. This procedural part appears to have never happened if the Argonauts actually approached us, although Mace made it clear behind the scenes that he had no intention of leaving Saskatchewan.

Mays already has an established relationship with Toronto's current roster, having served as the team's defensive coordinator in 2022 and 2023. He won the Gray Cup in his first season with the Argonauts and then helped the organization set a new franchise record by finishing 16-2 the following season. Since joining the Roughriders, he has compiled a 21-14-1 record as head coach and won the fifth Gray Cup in franchise history.

It is a violation of CFL policy for any person directly or indirectly associated with a team to contact or negotiate with a non-playing employee under contract with another franchise without prior written permission. This includes advances made directly or indirectly through an agent, by public or private statement or inference.

If tampering is found to have occurred, teams are subject to fines of up to $50,000 and the forfeiture of their next available first-round CFL draft pick. In case of repeated violation, the offender may be suspended from office for a specified or indefinite period, including life, at the discretion of the Commissioner.

Penalties for tampering were increased in 2016 after a string of questionable coaching changes, including the move of defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe from Montreal to Edmonton. it was blocked by the CFL. While the league sent out a memo warning teams about the consequences of intervention in 2018, no fines were publicly announced or reported under current policy.

The last known fine for coaching interference came in December 2011, when the Argonauts, led by head coach Scott Milanovich and general manager Jim Barker, were fined $5,000 for poaching defensive coordinator Chris Jones from the Calgary Stampeders.

Four years later, Edmonton general manager Ed Hervey, who had previously been fined for interfering with players, was fined $1,500 following then-head coach Jones' departure to Saskatchewan after he publicly stated that interfering with coaches was “just part of the CFL” and that everyone did it.

Having allegedly received rebuff from Mace, the Argonauts promoted defensive backs coach Mike Miller to head coach. The organization also made significant changes to its front office, bringing back Jim Barker as Player And adding John Hufnagel as senior advisor.

Toronto finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5–13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play the entire season due to a broken leg he suffered in the Eastern final last year, losing to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, to be named the team's Most Outstanding candidate. Player.

The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offense, sixth in net defense and seventh in turnover differential of minus-eight. The club's leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with an average attendance of 15,109, down 0.1 percent from the previous year.