The Toronto Argonauts have interviewed co-defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and pro personnel assistant Jason Shivers for the team's head coaching position, according to sources.
The 43-year-old joined the Argos for the 2025 CFL season. He began his coaching career with Double Blue in 2013 after five years playing defense in the league with three losses, including three years with Toronto.
After becoming a defensive assistant with the Argonauts, Shivers was hired as Edmonton's defensive backs coach in 2014 and remained there until 2015, winning a Gray Cup with the Green and Gold. He moved with Chris Jones to Saskatchewan in 2016, spent three seasons as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2019.
He held the position until 2023, but lost his job when Craig Dickenson's staff was fired and Corey Mays was hired as Saskatchewan's head coach and defensive coordinator. Shivers was Edmonton's assistant coach and defensive coordinator in 2024 but was not retained on Mark Kilam's staff entering 2025.
The Argos head coaching vacancy became available after Ryan Dinwiddie, the team's two-time Gray Cup winning head coach, left for the Ottawa Redblacks to become bench coach and general manager..
According to sources, Shivers is under contract through the 2026 season, during which time he will serve in his current role in Toronto. Others who reportedly interviewed for the team's vacant head coaching position: special teams coordinator Mickey Donovan, defensive backs coach Mike Miller, co-defensive coordinator Kevin Eiben, wide receivers coach Pete CostanzaAnd Ottawa special teams coordinator Rick Campbell.
The Argos finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Chad Kelly was unable to play the entire season due to a broken leg he suffered in the 2024 Eastern Division finals. Nick Arbuckle threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions to be named the team's Most Outstanding Player.
Toronto ranked seventh in net offense, sixth in net defense and seventh in turnover differential of minus-eight. The team'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. The Argos ranked ninth in attendance with an average of 15,109 fans at BMO Field, down 0.1 percent from the previous year.
