CFL
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Canadian Football League (CFL) or League de Football Canadien (LCF) was formed in 1958, with the merger of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union or "Big Four" (founded in 1907) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) (started in March 1936). The Big Four was renamed the Eastern Football Conference in 1960, while the WIFU was renamed the Western Football Conference in 1961.
It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division and five in the West Division and is the highest professional level of Canadian football. Teams allocate players in the annual CFL Draft to select eligible Canadian players, typically from the ranks of collegiate football either from the U Sports football (Canadian Football) or NCAA college football (American College Football).
It traces its history back to the 1880s and remains the only Football League in North America that has its teams solely based in Canada, having briefly hosted USA teams from 1993-1995.
The league features a 21-week regular season in which each team plays 18 games with three bye weeks. The regular season traditionally runs from mid-June to late October. After the regular season, six teams compete in the playoffs, which culminate in the Grey Cup championship game in late November. The Grey Cup is one of Canada's largest annual sports and television events.
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CFL Champions
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Toronto Argonauts
Archive
This is a an historical archive of the league logo used since 1958.
2016
2002
CFL-USA
1969
1955
Teams
The CFL consists of 9 teams, split into two divisions, made up of 5 in the West and 4 in the east. It most recently expanded with the introduction of the Ottawa Redblacks in 2014.
For a brief time, there were teams based in the USA from 1993-1995 before returning to Canadian-based teams for the 1996 season with the return of the Montreal Alouettes.
Select a division below to view its dedicated page, including team logos, colours, and full profile details:
Visit the CFL Teams page with each division including its own Archive.
History
Since its formation, the CFL has expanded through new franchises, realignments, and structural changes that shaped the modern 9‑team, two‑division league. These developments include new expansion clubs, reactivations, divisional adjustments over time and a brief US expansion era.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 1954 |
BC Lions (E) First major post‑war expansion; WIFU grows westward. |
| 1958 | BC Lions (FM) Calgary Stampeders (FM) Edmonton Eskimos (FM) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (FM) Montreal Alouettes (FM) Ottawa Rough Riders (FM) Saskatchewan Roughriders (FM) Toronto Argonauts (FM) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (FM) Founding (FM) members of the combined CFL. |
| 1961 |
Hamilton Tiger‑Cats absorb remnants of the ORFU. Structural consolidation. |
| 1974 | Montreal Alouettes (E) Reactivated after 1970s instability. |
| 1980 |
Montreal Concordes (E) Replace folded Alouettes |
| 1982 | Montreal Alouettes (F) Franchise ceased operations before the season. |
| 1986 | Montreal Alouettes Montreal Concordes rebrand as the Montreal Alouettes. |
| 1993 | Sacramento Gold Miners
Beginning of CFL U.S. expansion. |
| 1994 | Baltimore CFLers / Stallions Las Vegas Posse Shreveport Pirates Stallions were the only U.S. team to win the Grey Cup (1995) and joined the CFL with the Las Vegas Posse and Shreveport Pirates. |
| 1995 | Birmingham Barracudas Memphis Mad Dogs Joined the U.S. expansion with the introduction of the North/South CFL alignment. |
| 1996 | Baltimore Stallions (D/R) Moved to Montreal to become the new Alouettes and all other US teams folded as the CFL returned to all-Canadian teams. |
| Ottawa Rough Riders (D) Ottawa Rough Riders folded after having played since 1896. |
|
| 2002 | Ottawa Renegades (E) Ottawa returns after Rough Riders folded in 1996. |
| 2005 | Ottawa Renegades (D) Renegades folded and never played in the playoffs. |
| 2014 | Ottawa Redblacks (E) Ottawa Redblacks joined after Renegades folded in 2006. |
| 2021 | Edmonton Eskimos (NC) Rebranded as the Edmonton Elks following review. |
LEGEND
E = Expansion
D = Defunct
NC = Name Change
R = Relocated
Rules
The CFL uses a unique code similar to American Football with distinct differences including system of downs, number of players and size of the field which makes it uniquely Canadian.
Visit the CFL Rules page.
Seasons
Each team plays 2 pre-season games, in May-June, before competing in an 18-game/21-week regular season including 3 bye weeks,between June and November.
The complete history of every CFL season's playoffs, from the league’s early years to today. Each year reflects the playoff races across the league.
Visit the CFL Seasons page.
Playoffs
The CFL Playoffs bring together the top teams from each division, with the finalists playing in the Grey Cup.
Visit the CFL Playoffs page.