CFL in History

• 1873-10-04 Toronto Argonauts Football Club (CFL) forms as Argonaut Rowing Club rugby-football squad; oldest existing pro sports team in North America still using original name
• 1883-01-04 Ontario Rugby Football Union (forerunner of CFL) forms
• 1910-10-01 Regina Rugby Club (to become CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders) plays first game, losing to Moose Jaw Tigers, 16-6

• 1910-10-29 Hamilton running back / kicker Ben Simpson lands CFL record 11 singles in Tigers 14-7 win over Montreal at Montreal AAA Grounds
• 1950-08-12 First international game by an NFL team, New York Giants beat CFL's Ottawa Roughriders, 20-6 at Ottawa's Lansdowne Stadium
• 1951-08-11 New York Giants (NFL) beat Ottawa Roughriders (CFL), 38-6 in Ottawa
• 1953-10-28 Bud Grant of CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers intercepts 5 passes (record)
• 1954-08-30 BC Lions play franchise's first CFL game in Vancouver; lose to Saskatchewan Roughriders, 17-0
• 1959-08-05 Chicago Cardinals (NFL) beat Toronto Argonauts (CFL), 55-26 in a pre-season exhibition at CNE Stadium in Toronto
• 1960-08-03 Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) beat Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 43-16 in exhibition game at CNE Stadium in Toronto
• 1960-08-15 CFL's Calgary Stampeders move into McMahon Stadium
• 1960-10-10 Ron Stewart of Ottawa rushes for CFL-record 287 yards
• 1961-08-02 St Louis Cardinals (NFL) beat Toronto Argonauts (CFL) 36-7 in an exhibition game in Toronto, Canada
• 1961-08-05 Chicago Bears (NFL) beat Montreal Alouettes (CFL), 34-16 in a pre-season exhibition at Molson Stadium in Montreal
• 1961-08-08 Ham Tigercats (CFL) beat Buff Bills (NFL) 38-21 in Hamilton, Ontario
• 1967-02-23 Ted Workman replaces Senator Keith Davey as CFL commissioner

• 1977-09-24 Ken Hinton of CFL British Columbia Lions returns a punt 130 yards
• 1984-06-01 Douglas H Mitchell, QC of Calgary becomes 6th CFL Commissioner
• 1986-09-14 Saskatchewan & Hamilton play 1st CFL regular-season overtime game
• 1987-06-24 CFL's Montreal Alouettes team folds
• 1987-09-06 Saskatchewan's Dave Ridgway kicks a CFL-record 60-yard field goal
• 1987-10-04 Winnipeg CFL defensive back James Jefferson scores 2 TDs on interception returns without making an interception; scores both on laterals in Blue Bombers' 47-14 win v Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• 1988-09-05 CFL's Earl Winfield (Ham) scores TDs on 101-yd punt return, 100-yd kickoff return & 58-yd pass reception
• 1989-02-24 Harold E Ballard sells CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats to David Braley
• 1990-01-05 J Donald Crump appointed 8th Commissioner of CFL
• 1990-09-01 Toronto Argonauts beat BC Lions 68-43 at the Skydome in Toronto for the highest combined score (111) in Canadian Football League history

• 1991-07-26 CFL assumes ownership of Ottawa Rough Riders

• 1991-10-19 Lonnie Glieberman purchased Ottawa Rough Riders from CFL
• 1991-10-24 Larry Ryckman purchases CFL Calgary Stampeders
• 1991-12-31 J. Donald Crump resigns as CFL Commissioner
• 1992-02-27 Larry Smith named 9th Commissioner of the CFL
• 1992-08-27 CFL revokes BC Lions franchise
• 1992-09-23 Bill Comrie purchases BC Lions from CFL
• 1993-02-23 Sacramento Gold Miners admitted as CFL's 9th franchise (1st US team)
• 1994-02-18 Shreveport Pirates join Canadian Football League as 4th US-based team; fold 1995
• 1994-07-06 CFL American expansion Shreveport Pirates lose game, 40-10 at the Ottawa Rough Riders; fold 1995
• 1994-07-16 Shreveport Pirates lose first CFL home game, 35-34 to the Toronto Argonauts at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana
• 1995-01-11 Birmingham Barracudas (based in Alabama) granted CFL franchise, experiment only lasts one season
• 1995-01-28 Memphis Mad Dogs granted CFL's 13th franchise
• 1995-02-21 CFL's Sacramento Gold Miners become San Antonio Texans
• 1995-06-29 Memphis Mad Dogs 1st CFL game (vs Calgary Stampeders)
• 1995-07-04 Birmingham Barracudas (based in Alabama) play 1st CFL game beating Winnipeg 38-10 but failed experiment only lasts one season
• 2006-09-04 Damon Allen moves past ex-CFL & NFL star Warren Moon as pro football's all-time leading passer; throws for 207 yards & 2 scores as Toronto routs Hamilton, 40-6; Allen 70,595 career passing yards

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 242

• 1914-12-10 Jeff Nicklin, Canadian CFL football player (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Army officer and paratrooper, born in Fort William, Ontario (d. 1945) [1]
• 1923-02-10 Allie Sherman, American NFL coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1953-56 CFL; New York Giants 1961–68), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2015)
• 1927-05-20 Harry "Bud" Grant, American Pro Football HOF coach (NFL Coach of the Year 1969 Minnesota Vikings; 4 x Grey Cup C'ship Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and basketball forward (NBA C'ship 1950 Minnesota Lakers), born in Superior, Wisconsin (d. 2023) [1]
• 1935-05-25 Cookie Gilchrist, American football fullback (AFL All Star 1962-65; AFL MVP 1962; CFL All Star 1956-60), born in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania (d. 2011)
• 1935-06-03 Ken Ploen, American CFL HOF quarterback (CFL All-Star 1965; CFL West All-Star 1957, 59, 65 Winnipeg Blue Bombers), born in Lost Nation, Iowa (d. 2024)
• 1936-05-31 Tony Pajaczkowski, Canadian Football Hall of Fame offensive guard (CFL All-Star 1962–65; Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 2022)
• 1937-02-13 Angelo Mosca, American football defensive tackle (CFL All Star 1963, 70 Hamilton Tiger-Cats), born in Waltham, Massachusetts (d. 2021)
• 1937-11-27 Marvin Luster, American CFL Hall of Fame defensive back (6 x CFL All Star; Toronto Argonauts, Montreal Alouettes), born in Shreveport, Louisiana (d. 2020)
• 1939-02-19 Douglas Mitchell, Canadian Football Hall of Fame executive (CFL Commissioner 1984-88), born in Calgary, Alberta (d. 2022)
• 1939-06-22 Don Matthews, American football coach in the CFL
• 1943-01-04 Tom Wilkinson, American CFL football quarterback, 1967-81 (5 x Grey Cup; 3 x All-Star - Edmonton Eskimos, and 2 other teams), born in Ottumwa, Iowa
• 1945-10-17 Dave Cutler, CFL place kicker (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1948-05-26 Ken Clark, Canadian football punter (CFL All Star 1977, 80, 82, 85; Hamilton Tiger-Cats; Saskatchewan Roughriders; Ottawa Rough Riders; NFL: LA Rams), born in Southampton, England (d. 2021)
• 1948-07-13 Don Sweet, Canadian CFL, NFL place kicker (Montreal, Green Bay), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
• 1951-06-15 Tom Forzani, CFL wide receiver (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1951-09-24 Terry Metcalf, American NFL, CFL running back (St Louis, Toronto), born in Seattle, Washington

• 1951-10-12 Bernie Ruoff, CFL kicker (Winnipeg, Hamilton), born in West Germany
• 1954-01-25 Condredge Holloway, American CFL HOF quarterback (Grey Cup 1976 Ottawa Rough Riders, 1983 Toronto Argonauts; CFL Most Outstanding Player 1982), born in Huntsville, Alabama
• 1954-04-24 Vince Ferragamo, American football quarterback (LA Rams, Montreal Alouettes), born in Torrance, California
• 1954-06-07 Lui Passaglia, Canadian CFL playerr (BC Lions), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
• 1954-07-18 Robert Cameron, CFL punter (Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
• 1956-03-27 Brian Kelly, American CFL wide receiver (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Arcadia, California
• 1959-06-04 Rod Connop, Canadian CFL corner (Edmonton Eskimos), born in North Vancouver, British Columbia
• 1959-09-17 Hank Ilesic, Canadian CFL punter and place kicker (Edmonton, Toronto), born in Edmonton, Alberta
• 1960-02-16 Chris Schultz, Canadian football offensive tackle (NFL Dallas Cowboys; CFL All Star 1987, 88; Toronto Argonauts) and sportscaster (The Sports Network), born in Burlington, Ontario (d. 2021)
• 1960-09-22 Victor Stevenson, Canadian CFL tackle (Edmonton Eskimos), born in New Westminster, British Columbia
• 1960-11-30 Dan Rashovich, CFL linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1961-07-21 Don Wilson, American CFL football linebacker, 1987-98 (Edmonton Eskimos; Toronto Argonauts, British Columbia Lions), born in Washington, DC
• 1961-08-06 Earl Winfield, CFL receiver (Hamilton Tiger Cats)
• 1961-11-02 Jim Tedford, American football coach (Fresno State; BC Lions [CFL]), born in Lynwood, California
• 1961-12-12 Dale Sanderson, Canadian CFL guard (Hamilton Tiger Cats), born in Hamilton, Ontario

• 1962-05-31 Henry 'Gizmo' Williams, American-Canadian CFL receiver (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Memphis, Tennessee

• 1963-01-23 Rocco Romano, Canadian CFL guard (Calgary Stampeders), born in Hamilton, Canada
• 1963-06-28 Allen Pitts, CFL slot back (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1963-07-29 Damon Allen, American born CFL quarterback (BC Lions), born in San Diego, California
• 1964-01-05 Tracy Ham, American College/Canadian Football HOF quarterback (Georgia Southern Uni; Grey Cup 1987, 1995 [MVP]; CFL All-Star 1989; Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts), born in Gainesville, Florida
• 1964-02-21 Willie Pless, American CFL linebacker (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Anniston, Alabama
• 1964-04-14 Greg Battle, American CFL linebacker, 1987-98 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), born in Long Beach, California
• 1964-04-27 Paul Osbaldiston, CFL kicker (Hamilton Tiger Cats), born in Oldham, England
• 1964-08-06 Robert Mimbs, CFL running back (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1964-08-26 Bobby Jurasin, American CFL defensive end (Saskatchewan Roughriders), born in Wakefield, Michigan
• 1964-11-22 Pierre Vercheval, CFL guard (Toronto Argonauts)
• 1964-12-06 Will Johnson, CFL defensive end (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1965-01-15 Michael Clemons, American CFL running back (Toronto Argonauts), born in Dunedin, Florida
• 1965-02-08 Lee Knight, CFL full back (Hamilton Tiger Cats), born in Wallesey, England
• 1965-02-26 Donald Narcisse, American CFL receiver (Saskatchewan Roughriders), born in Port Arthur, Texas
• 1965-03-10 Paul Masotti, Canadian CFL receiver (Toronto Argonauts) and football executive, born in Hamilton, Ontario
• 1965-04-04 Tony Burse, American football running back (Edmonton Eskimos), born in LaFayette, Georgia
• 1965-06-17 Danny McManus, CFL quarterback (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1965-07-17 Ken Evraire, Canadian CFL slot back (Hamilton Tiger Cats), born in Toronto, Ontario
• 1965-07-18 Robert Holland, CFL defensive back (BC Lions)
• 1965-07-22 Alondra Johnson, CFL linebacker (Calgary Stampeders)
• 1965-08-13 Leo Groenewegen, CFL guard (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
• 1965-10-26 Mark McLoughlin, Canadian CFL placekicker (CFL All Star 1994, 96, 99; Grey Cup 1992, 98, 2001; Calgary Stampeders), born in Liverpool, England
• 1965-11-20 Andrew Stewart, American CFL defensive tackle (Toronto Argonauts), born in Kingston, Jamaica
• 1965-12-16 Moe Elewonibi, NFL/CFL tackle (Philadelphia Eagles, BC Lions)
• 1966-01-31 Jamie Taras, Canadian football player (BC Lions), born in Acton, Ontario
• 1966-03-20 Giulio Caravatta, CFL quarterback (BC Lions)
• 1966-04-23 Wayne Drinkwalter, CFL defensive tackle (BC Lions), born in Thunder Bay, Ontario
• 1966-05-14 Leroy Blugh, CFL defensive end (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1966-06-07 Dan Payne, Canadian football tackle (Grey Cup: Saskatchewan Roughriders 1989; Toronto Argonauts 1996, 97; B.C. Lions 2000), born in New Westminster, British Columbia
• 1966-06-09 Tony Martino, Canadian CFL punter (Calgary Stampeders), born in Kelowna, British Columbia
• 1966-06-22 Paul Randolph, CFL linebacker (Montreal Alouettes)
• 1966-07-15 Rickey Foggie, American CFL quarterback (Hamilton Tiger Cats), born in Laurens, South Carolina
• 1966-08-01 Darryl Hall, CFL linebacker (Calgary Stampeders), born in Oscoda, Michigan
• 1966-08-12 Bruce Covernton, Canadian CFL defensive tackle (Calgary Stampeders), born in Morris, Manitoba
• 1966-08-30 John Terry, Canadian CFL tackle (Saskatchewan Roughriders), born in Greenwood, North Carolina
• 1966-09-17 Fred Childress, American CFL guard (Calgary Stampeders), born in Little Rock, Arkansas
• 1966-11-08 Michael Soles, Canadian CFL fullback (Montreal Alouettes), born in Pointe-Claire, Canada
• 1966-11-14 Carl Coulter, Canadian CFL corner (Saskatchewan Roughriders), born in Lindsay, Ontario
• 1966-11-14 Rod Harris, CFL slot back (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1966-11-18 Darren Flutie, American CFL wide receiver (Grey Cup 1994, 99; CFL All-Star 1996, 97, 99; Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats), born in Manchester, Maryland
• 1966-12-01 Steve Walsh, American football quarterback (NCAA C'ship 1987 University of Miami; NO Saints + 5 other NFL teams), born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
• 1967-03-08 Dale Joseph, CFL defensive back (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1967-03-09 Michael Kiselak, American football player, CFL corner (Toronto Argonauts), born in North Tarrytown, New York
• 1967-03-21 Troy Westwood, Canadian CFL football kicker and punter, 1991-2009 (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), born in Dauphin, Manitoba
• 1967-06-21 Robert Drummond, CFL running back (Toronto Argonauts)
• 1967-07-14 Glen Scrivener, Canadian CFL defensive tackle (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba
• 1967-08-06 Willie Williams, NFL/CFL tackle (Toronto Argonauts, New Orleans Saints)
• 1967-08-21 Tuineau Alipate, Tongan-born NFL and CFL player (Frankfurt Galaxy, Minnesota Vikings), born in Tonga (d. 2021)
• 1967-08-28 Chris Armstrong, CFL slot back (Montreal Alouettes), born in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• 1967-10-01 Mike Pringle, American Canadian Football Hall of Fame running back (CFL MOP 1995, 98; Montreal Alouettes), born in Los Angeles, California
• 1967-10-11 Bruce Dickson, CFL linebacker (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Hamilton, Ontario
• 1968-02-01 Sean Millington, Canadian football fullback (Grey Cup 1994, 2000; BC Lions) and broadcaster (cfl.ca and CBC), born in Vancouver, British Columbia
• 1968-02-08 Ron Goetz, CFL linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
• 1968-02-20 Bennie Goods, CFL defensive tackle (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1968-03-23 Curtis Mayfield, Canadian CFL receiver (Saskatchewan Roughriders, 1996-99), born in Dallas, Texas
• 1968-03-23 David Maeva, CFL linebacker (BC Lions)
• 1968-03-25 Errol Martin, CFL linebacker (Edmonton Eskimos)
• 1968-04-12 Neal Fort, American football tackle (Montreal Alouettes), born in Warner Robins, Georgia
• 1968-04-19 Roger Reinson, CFL linebacker (Calgary Stampeders), born in Melville, Saskatchewan
• 1968-04-28 Damion Lyons, Canadian CFL cornerback (BC Lions)
• 1968-05-05 Craig Hendrickson, CFL tackle (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), born in Tucson, Arizona
• 1968-06-13 Bruce Beaton, CFL corner (Montreal Alouettes)
• 1968-06-30 Peter Miller, Canadian CFL linebacker (BC Lions), born in Montreal, Quebec
• 1968-07-30 Charles Gordon, CFL defensive back (Montreal Alouettes), born in Tampa, Florida
• 1968-07-31 Andre Ware, American College Football Hall of Fame quarterback (Heisman Trophy 1989, U of Houston; Detroit Lions; Toronto Argonauts), born in Galveston, Texas
• 1968-08-29 Darren Joseph, Canadian football fullback (Saskatchewan Roughriders), born in Ottawa, Canada
• 1968-09-13 Chris Morris, Canadian CFL tackle (Edmonton Eskimos), born in Scarborough, Ontario

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• 1945-03-24 Jeff Nicklin, Canadian CFL football player (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Army officer and paratrooper, killed in action during Operation Varsity at 30 [1]
• 1968-02-22 Omer CFL Tulippe, Belgian geographer, dies at 71
• 2011-01-10 Cookie Gilchrist, American football fullback (AFL All Star 1962-65; AFL MVP 1962; CFL All Star 1956-60), dies of chronic traumatic encephalopathy at 75
• 2015-01-03 Allie Sherman, American NFL coach (Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1953-56 CFL; New York Giants 1961–68), dies at 91
• 2020-05-25 Marvin Luster, American CFL Hall of Fame defensive back (6 x CFL All Star; Toronto Argonauts, Montreal Alouettes), dies at 82
• 2021-03-04 Chris Schultz, Canadian football offensive tackle (NFL Dallas Cowboys; CFL All Star 1987, 88; Toronto Argonauts) and sportscaster (The Sports Network), dies from a heart attack at 61
• 2021-08-08 Ken Clark, Canadian football punter (CFL All Star 1977, 80, 82, 85; Hamilton Tiger-Cats; Saskatchewan Roughriders; Ottawa Rough Riders; NFL: LA Rams), dies at 73
• 2021-10-15 Tuineau Alipate, Tongan-born NFL and CFL player (Frankfurt Galaxy, Minnesota Vikings), dies at 54
• 2021-11-06 Angelo Mosca, American football defensive tackle (CFL All Star 1963, 70 Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and pro wrestler, dies from Alzheimer's disease at 84
• 2022-06-04 Tony Pajaczkowski, Canadian Football Hall of Fame offensive guard (CFL All-Star 1962–65; Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes), dies at 86
• 2022-07-20 Douglas Mitchell, Canadian Football Hall of Fame executive (CFL Commissioner 1984-88), dies at 83
• 2024-02-13 Ken Ploen, American CFL HOF quarterback (CFL All-Star 1965; CFL West All-Star 1957, 59, 65 Winnipeg Blue Bombers), dies at 88