Editing Canadian Football League (section)

==History==
===Early history===
{{further|History of Canadian football}}
[[Rugby football]] began to be played in Canada in the 1860s, and many of the first Canadian football teams played under the auspices of the Canadian Rugby Football Union (CRFU), founded in June 1880 then reorganized in February 1884.<ref name="Football Canada timeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.footballcanada.com/history_te.asp |title=Canadian Football Timelines (1860–present) |access-date=December 23, 2006 |publisher=[[Football Canada]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228064050/http://www.footballcanada.com/history_timeline.asp |archive-date=February 28, 2007}}</ref> The CRFU was reorganized as the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) in 1891, and served as an [[umbrella organization]] for several provincial and regional unions. The [[Grey Cup]] was donated by [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Albert Henry George Grey, 4th Earl Grey|the Earl Grey]] in 1909 to the team winning the "Senior Amateur Football Championship of Canada". By that time, the sport as played in Canada had diverged markedly from its rugby origins with the introduction of the [[Burnside rules]], and started to become more similar to the [[American football|American game]].

For much of the early part of the 20th century, the game was contested by intraprovincial leagues, or unions. In 1907, several of the stronger senior clubs in Ontario and Quebec formed the [[Interprovincial Rugby Football Union]] (IRFU or more commonly known as the "Big Four"). It took almost 30 years for an elite interprovincial western union to emerge, when in 1936 the stronger senior clubs in Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan formed the [[Western Interprovincial Football Union]] (WIFU). From the 1930s to the 1950s, the Big Four and WIFU gradually evolved from [[amateur sports|amateur]] to professional leagues, and amateur teams were no longer competitive for the Grey Cup. Apart from the [[World War II]] years, an amateur team last won the Grey Cup in 1936.

By the end of World War II, the WIFU's play was at the same level as that of the Big Four. Within a few years after the return of peace, both interprovincial unions had turned openly professional. However, while the Big Four champion got an automatic berth to the Grey Cup final, until 1954 the WIFU's champion had to play in a semi-final against the champion of the [[Ontario Rugby Football Union]] (ORFU)–by then, the only amateur union still competing for the Grey Cup. The ORFU withdrew from Grey Cup competition after the 1953 season, and the WIFU champion was given an automatic berth in the Grey Cup final. For this reason, 1954 is reckoned as the start of the modern era of Canadian football, in which the Grey Cup has been exclusively contested by professional teams. Since 1965, Canada's top university football teams, competing in what is now [[U Sports]], have competed for the [[Vanier Cup]].

===Merger===

In 1956, the Montreal Alouettes threatened to leave the Big Four and join the rival WIFU. As a result, the Big Four and WIFU formed a new umbrella organization, the Canadian Football Council (CFC) to modernize the operations and management of the professional game. In [[1958 CFL season|1958]], the CFC formally left the CRU and reorganized as the Canadian Football League (CFL). As part of an agreement between the CRU and CFL, the CFL took possession of the Grey Cup, and the amateurs were officially locked out of Grey Cup play. However, the Grey Cup had been the de facto professional championship since 1954. The CRU remained the governing body for amateur play in Canada, eventually adopting the name [[Football Canada]]. Initially, the two unions remained autonomous, and there was no intersectional play between eastern (Big Four) and western (WIFU) teams except at the Grey Cup final. This situation was roughly analogous to how [[Major League Baseball]] operated for almost all of the 20th century.

The Big Four was renamed the Eastern Football Conference in [[1960 CFL season|1960]], while the WIFU was renamed the Western Football Conference in [[1961 CFL season|1961]]. Also in 1961, limited intersectional play was introduced. Because the West played 16 games by this time while the East still only played 14, this arrangement oddly allowed both the four-team Eastern Conference and the five-team Western Conference to play three games per intraconference opponent and one game per interconference opponent. It was not until 1974 that the East expanded its schedule to 16 games, just like the West. In [[1981 CFL season|1981]], the two conferences agreed to a full merger, becoming the East and West Divisions of the CFL. With the merger came a fully balanced and interlocking schedule of 16 games per season (with all nine teams playing each other twice, once at home and once on the road). Since 1986 (with the exception of 2021), the CFL's regular season schedule has been 18 games.

The separate histories of the Big Four and the WIFU accounted for the fact that two teams had basically the same name: the Big Four's [[Ottawa Rough Riders|Ottawa ''Rough Riders'']] were often called the "Eastern Riders", while the WIFU's [[Saskatchewan Roughriders|Saskatchewan ''Roughriders'']] were called the "Western Riders" or "Green Riders". Other team names had traditional origins. With [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] a national craze in the late 19th century, the [[Argonaut Rowing Club]] of Toronto formed a rugby team for its members' off-season participation. The football team name [[Toronto Argonauts]] still remains even though it and the rowing club have long since gone their separate ways. After World War II, the Hamilton Tigers absorbed the upstart war-era Flying Wildcats and called the team the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]].

The league remained stable with nine franchises—the [[BC Lions]], [[Calgary Stampeders]], [[Edmonton Eskimos]], [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]], [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]], [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]], [[Toronto Argonauts]], [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] and [[Montreal Alouettes]]—from its 1958 inception until [[1981 CFL season|1981]]. After the 1981 season, the Alouettes folded and were replaced the next year by a new franchise named the Concordes.

In [[1986 CFL season|1986]] the Concordes were renamed the Alouettes to attract more fan support, but the team folded the next year. The loss of the Montreal franchise forced the league to move its easternmost Western team, Winnipeg, into the East Division from 1987 to 1994.

===United States expansion===
{{Main|Canadian Football League in the United States}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:CFL USA Logo 1993-1995.png|100px|right|thumb|The CFL USA logo used to promote the United States expansion from 1993 to 1995.]] -->
In [[1993 CFL season|1993]], the league admitted its first United States-based franchise, the [[Sacramento Gold Miners]]. After modest success, the league then expanded further in the U.S. in [[1994 CFL season|1994]] with the [[Las Vegas Posse]], [[Baltimore Stallions]], and [[Shreveport Pirates]]. For the [[1995 CFL season|1995]] campaign, the American teams were split off into their own South Division, and two more teams, the [[Birmingham Barracudas]] and [[Memphis Mad Dogs]], were added; at the same time, the Posse folded and the Gold Miners relocated to become the [[San Antonio Texans]]. In 1995, the Stallions became the only non-Canadian team to win the [[83rd Grey Cup|Grey Cup]].

Despite all American teams having the advantage of not being bound to the CFL's minimum Canadian player quotas, only the Stallions proved to be an on-field and off-field success. The [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy|establishment of the NFL's]] [[Baltimore Ravens]], worsening financial problems among the league's core Canadian teams, and the inconsistent performance of the other American teams prompted the CFL to abandon its American experiment and retrench its Canadian operations. The Stallions organization was used as the basis for a revival of the [[Montreal Alouettes]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Co |first=Allegiant Goods |title=The CFL's Attempted Expansion into the United States |url=https://www.allegiantgoods.co/blogs/news/cfl-expansion?srsltid=AfmBOorlVwkLADE6BPT_6dFfLWH7V3FomGgO1ePyNc3LVeYCiSUz-F5X |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Allegiant Goods Co. |language=en}}</ref>

===Post-U.S. expansion era===
The CFL returned to an all-Canadian format in [[1996 CFL season|1996]] with nine teams;<ref>David George-Cosh, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304607104579210390697498978 Football: Gaining a Foothold in Canada], Wall Street Journal, November 26, 2013.</ref> the league conducted a [[dispersal draft]] to distribute players from the disbanded American-based teams; however, the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]], in existence since 1876, folded after the 1996 season (another dispersal draft was conducted the next year to distribute the former Rough Rider players among the remaining eight teams). Toronto and recently revived Montreal also were struggling; Montreal's woes were solved by moving to [[Percival Molson Memorial Stadium]], a much smaller venue than the cavernous [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]]. The Winnipeg team again moved to the East Division from 1997 to 2001 to make up for the loss of Ottawa.

In 1997, the NFL provided a {{USD|3-million}} interest-free loan to the financially struggling CFL. In return, the NFL was granted access to CFL players entering a defined two-month window in the option year of their contract. This was later written into the CFL's collective bargaining agreement with its players. The CFL's finances have since stabilized and they eventually repaid the loan. The CFL–NFL agreement expired in 2006. Both leagues attempted to reach a new agreement, but the CFL broke off negotiations in November 2007 after Canadian telecommunications firm [[Rogers Communications]] paid $78&nbsp;million to [[Bills Toronto Series|host seven Bills games]] in [[Toronto]] over five seasons (the last Bills Toronto Series game was played during the [[2013 NFL season]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/cfl-ends-working-agreement-with-nfl |title=CFL ends working agreement with NFL |work=National Post |location=Canada |date=November 25, 2007 |access-date=May 18, 2022|last1=Fitz-Gerald |first1=Sean }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/lefko-bills-nfl-initiative/|title=Bills' plan exposes NFL-CFL relationship |publisher=Sportsnet.ca |date=October 20, 2007 |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522005202/http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/2007/10/20/lefko_bills_nfl_initiative/ |archive-date=May 22, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Commonwealth Stadium.jpg|thumb|Edmonton's [[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Commonwealth Stadium]] (shown during player introductions prior to a game) is the largest venue in the CFL.]]

In [[2002 CFL season|2002]], the league expanded back to nine teams with the creation of the [[Ottawa Renegades]]. After four seasons of financial losses, the Renegades were suspended indefinitely before the [[2006 CFL season|2006 season]]; their players were absorbed by the remaining teams in a dispersal draft. Winnipeg was moved to the East Division again in 2006, a situation that continued until 2013.

In [[2005 CFL season|2005]], the league set an all-time [[CFL attendance|attendance record]] with a total attendance of more than 2.3&nbsp;million.<ref name="Sports Business Daily 2005-11-17">{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2005/11/17/The-Back-Of-The-Book/CFL-Sees-Numbers-Rise-At-The-Gates.aspx|title=CFL Sees Numbers Rise At The Gates |access-date=May 18, 2022 |publisher=Sports Business Journal|date=November 17, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310212632/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=sbd.preview&storyId=SBD2005111731 |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref> In June 2006 the league announced the launch of CFL Broadband, an internet streaming service designed to provide fans with another media platform, in addition to TSN and CBC broadcasts, to watch games live.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CFL Debuts Live Webcasting Service for 2006 season – INSINC |url=https://insinc.com/2005-2009/2006-06-22/ |access-date=June 17, 2022 }}</ref>

====Mark Cohon era (2007–2015)====
With Mark Cohon as commissioner of the league the CFL entered a period of stability and growth. New television deals, two new collective bargaining agreements, the [[100th Grey Cup]] celebration, and widespread stadium renovation and rebuilding highlighted this era. The [[100th Grey Cup|100th anniversary of the Grey Cup]] had the highest ever television ratings for a championship game in English Canada.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=410346|title=100th Grey Cup Game Sets Viewership Records for TSN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102063927/http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=410346%7Ctitle%3D100th |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |access-date=May 31, 2013|publisher=TSN.ca}}</ref>

During the 2000s the CFL had the third highest per-game attendance of any North American sports league and the seventh highest [[List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues|per-game attendance of any sports league worldwide]]. A 2006 survey conducted at the [[University of Lethbridge]] confirmed that the CFL was the second most popular sports league in Canada, with the following of 19% of the total adult Canadian population compared to 30% for the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. The [[National Football League|NFL]] had 11% following, with a total of 26% following at least one of the pro football leagues. In other words, approximately 80% of Canadian football fans follow the CFL, and about 55% follow the NFL.<ref name="Canadian Press 2006-06-08">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060608.wsurvey8/BNStory/Sports/home|title=Survey: Canadian interest in pro football is on the rise|date=June 8, 2006|work=Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|agency=Canadian Press|access-date=June 8, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2010|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5nDjFCLrm?url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060608.wsurvey8/BNStory/Sports/home}}</ref> With the absence of Ottawa from 2006 to 2013, league attendance hovered around the 2&nbsp;million mark. It stood at 2,029,875 in 2012 for a single game average of 28,193.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Canadian Football Statistics Database |title=2012 CFL Attendance |url=http://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/2012/attendance/ |access-date=May 31, 2013 }}</ref> The [[2007 CFL season|2007 season]] was a recent high point with average game attendance of 29,167, the best since 1983.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sold-out stadiums and strong attendance across the board lead to highest average since 1983 |url=https://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=newser&func=display&topicnum=&nid=21311&writer=0 |publisher=CFL.ca |date=November 8, 2007 |access-date=December 29, 2007}}</ref>

During Mark Cohon's time in office many of the teams either undertook major renovations to their existing stadiums, or constructed brand new stadiums. The [[Montreal Alouettes]] were the first to undertake this project, adding 5,000 seats to [[Percival Molson Memorial Stadium]] in time for the [[2010 CFL season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/percival-molson-stadium_47113 |title=Expansion project approved |publisher=Montreal Alouettes |access-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810033034/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/percival-molson-stadium_47113 |archive-date=August 10, 2011 }}</ref> The [[Edmonton Eskimos]] and [[Calgary Stampeders]] also renovated their respective stadiums and facilities for the 2010 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/eskimos-digging-their-new-digs |title=Eskimos digging their new digs |publisher=Cfl.ca |date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530063500/http://www.cfl.ca/article/eskimos-digging-their-new-digs |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }}</ref> In [[2011 CFL season|2011]], the [[BC Lions]] played under a new, retractable roof in [[BC Place]] after spending one and a half seasons at [[Empire Field]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/demise-of-famous-roof-begins-bc-place-renewal/article565304/ |title=Demise of famous roof begins BC Place renewal |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |date=May 4, 2010 |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608123718/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/iconic-bc-place-roof-deflated/article1556514/ |archive-date=June 8, 2010 }}</ref> In [[2013 CFL season|2013]], the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] moved to Investors Group Field, now known as [[Princess Auto Stadium]], an entirely new stadium at the [[University of Manitoba]]. The [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] began using their new stadium, [[Tim Hortons Field]], after spending 2013 at [[Alumni Stadium (Guelph)|University of Guelph's stadium]] and the first half of the 2014 season at [[Ron Joyce Stadium|McMaster University's football field]] following the demolition of the iconic [[Ivor Wynne Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/668370|title=Pan Ams will leave lasting legacy|publisher=Thespec.com|access-date=February 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109222641/http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/668370|archive-date=November 9, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2014 the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] kicked off their inaugural season (having been awarded a franchise in 2008<ref>{{cite news|title=CFL Grants Conditional Team to Ottawa|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=232810|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=TSN.ca|date=March 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503205516/http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=232810|archive-date=May 3, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>), becoming the third Ottawa franchise in CFL history. The new Ottawa franchise returned the league to a nine-team structure, with five teams in the West Division and four in the East; the Winnipeg Blue Bombers moved back to the West Division.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blue Bombers moving back to West Division in 2014|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=431718|access-date=June 22, 2014|publisher=TSN.ca|date=September 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905113259/http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=431718|archive-date=September 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The expansion Ottawa Redblacks played at the massively renovated [[TD Place Stadium|Frank Clair Stadium]], now branded as [[TD Place Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/new-lansdowne-designs-unveiled |title=New Lansdowne designs unveiled |publisher=Cfl.ca |access-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530040359/http://www.cfl.ca/article/new-lansdowne-designs-unveiled |archive-date=May 30, 2010 }}</ref>

In Mark Cohon's last year as commissioner he negotiated a new five-year collective bargaining agreement (from 2014 through the 2018 season) between the CFL and the [[Canadian Football League Players' Association]] (CFLPA).<ref name="CBA2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2014/06/13/new-five-year-cba-ratified-by-cfl-and-cflpa/|title=New five-year CBA ratified by CFL and CFLPA|date=June 13, 2014|website=CFL.ca|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref>

====Jeffrey Orridge era (2015–2017)====
The [[Toronto Argonauts]] entered a period of transition off the field, with new ownership and a new stadium. The Argonauts were sold by politician/businessman [[David Braley]] to [[Bell Media]] and [[Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment|MLSE]] chairman [[Larry Tanenbaum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/argonauts-announce-sale-move-to-bmo-field-1.3080235|title=Argonauts announce sale, move to BMO Field|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> At the start of the 2016 season the Argos moved to [[BMO Field]] after more than twenty seasons at the [[Rogers Centre]] (formerly called the SkyDome from 1989 to 2005).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/06/11/argonauts-debut-at-bmo-field-a-dandy|title=Argonauts debut at BMO Field a dandy|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=August 4, 2016|date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> Construction on the New [[Mosaic Stadium]] for the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] was completed in October 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cjme.com/article/179062/update-no-dome-new-location-proposed-regina-stadium|title=Update on plans for downtown Regina domed stadium coming: Enterprise Minister Ken Cheveldayoff|website=Cjme.com|access-date=January 13, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214002606/http://cjme.com/article/179062/update-no-dome-new-location-proposed-regina-stadium|archive-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> and the first game was played in the [[2017 CFL season|2017 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/roughriders-reveal-plans-to-shift-fans-from-old-mosiac-stadium-to-new-facility-in-2017|title=Roughriders reveal plans to shift fans from old Mosaic Stadium to new facility in 2017|date=March 18, 2016|language=en-US|access-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817014244/http://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/roughriders-reveal-plans-to-shift-fans-from-old-mosiac-stadium-to-new-facility-in-2017|archive-date=August 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Michael Sam]] signed a two-year contract with [[Montreal Alouettes]] of the CFL,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/article/d-lineman-michael-sam-signs-with-alouettes|title=D-lineman Michael Sam signs with Alouettes|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=May 22, 2015|work=CFL.ca|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525005537/http://www.cfl.ca/article/d-lineman-michael-sam-signs-with-alouettes|archive-date=May 25, 2015}}</ref><ref name="alouettes">{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2015/05/22/michael-sam-joins-alouettes-first-openly-gay-cfl-player.html|title=Michael Sam joins Alouettes, first openly gay CFL player|last=Campbell|first=Morgan|work=[[Toronto Star]]|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=May 22, 2015}}</ref> becoming the first openly gay player in the league's history.<ref name="alouettes" /> Sam left the team the day before the first preseason game, citing personal reasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/sam-leaves-als-training-camp-1.306592|title=Sam leaves Als training camp|date=June 12, 2015|access-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> As reported by [[Fox Sports]], Sam returned to Montreal to continue his professional football career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/michael-sam-montreal-alouettes-cfl-first-openly-gay-player-returns-to-team-062915|title=Michael Sam returns to Montreal, rejoins CFL's Alouettes|agency=AP|date=June 29, 2015|access-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref> He left again on August 14, this time permanently, again citing personal reasons.

Immediately following the 2015 season Jeffrey Orridge announced a re-branding for the CFL, including a new logo, motto, uniforms for all nine teams and website.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-commissioner-orridge-unveils-leagues-new-logo/|title=CFL commissioner Orridge unveils league's new logo|website=SportsNet.ca|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> After not having a drug enforcement policy in effect for the 2015 season the league and the CFLPA agreed to a new drug policy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2016/04/21/cfl-cflpa-agree-new-drug-policy-2016-season/|title=CFL, CFLPA agree on new drug policy for the 2016 season|date=April 21, 2016|website=CFL.ca|access-date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the Board of Governors and [[Jeffrey Orridge]] agreed to part ways, effective June 30, 2017; Orridge cited "differing views on the future of the league" between him and the Board of Governors for the departure, with both sides stating the decision was mutual and amicable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/12/statement-canadian-football-league-regarding-jeffrey-l-orridge/|title=Canadian Football League issues statement regarding Jeffrey L. Orridge|date=April 12, 2017|website=CFL.ca|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> His last day as commissioner was June 15, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/06/15/cfl-issues-statement-orridge-tenure-closes/|title=CFL issues statement as Orridge tenure closes|date=June 15, 2017|website=CFL.ca|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref> [[Jim Lawson (sports executive)|Jim Lawson]], the CFL's Chair of the Board of Governors, took over the duties of interim Commissioner until a suitable replacement was found.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/2017/06/20/postmedia-qa-cfl-interim-commissioner-jim-lawson|title=Postmedia Q&A: CFL interim commissioner Jim Lawson|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=May 20, 2022|date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>

====Randy Ambrosie era (2017–2025)====
On July 5, 2017, Randy Ambrosie succeeded Orridge as CFL commissioner.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2017/06/28/randy-ambrosie-to-be-named-new-cfl-commissioner-report|title=Randy Ambrosie to be named new CFL commissioner: Report|date=June 29, 2017|newspaper=Toronto Sun|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/07/05/canadian-football-league-appoints-randy-ambrosie-as-commissioner/|title=Canadian Football League appoints Randy Ambrosie as 14th Commissioner|date=July 5, 2017|website=CFL.ca|access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> Having spent nine seasons as a player with the [[Calgary Stampeders]], [[Toronto Argonauts]] and [[Edmonton Eskimos]] from 1985 to 1993, Ambrosie is the first commissioner to have played in the league since [[Larry Smith (Canadian politician)|Larry Smith]] left the position in 1997.

On September 12, 2018, it was announced that [[Buffalo, New York]]–based [[New Era Cap Company]] would become the official apparel supplier of the CFL beginning in 2019, replacing [[Adidas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2018/09/12/new-era-cap-to-provide-uniforms-apparel-to.html|title=New Era Cap to provide uniforms, apparel to Canadian Football League|website=Buffalo Business Journal|access-date=September 13, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2018, the CFL began focusing marketing internationally again after the unsuccessful expansion into the United States during the 1990s, with Ambrosie's plan being called ''CFL 2.0''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/10/03/randys-word-talking-cfl-2-0/|title=Randy's Word: Talking CFL 2.0|date=October 3, 2018}}</ref> Ambrosie partnered with the [[Professional American Football League of Mexico]] (LFA) for player development, as part of the league's plan to expand globally.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Ambrosie also later announced a special edition of the [[CFL Combine]] to be held in 2019 in Mexico for Mexican players, which was held on January 13, 2019.<ref name="sportsnet.ca">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/cfl-holds-combine-mexico-city-effort-grow-football-worldwide/|title=CFL holds combine in Mexico City in effort to grow football worldwide|website=sportsnet.ca|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> Ambroise said he wished the combine in Mexico to become annual, and that a combine could be held in Europe.<ref name="sportsnet.ca"/> On January 14, 2019, the league held a [[2019 CFL–LFA Draft|draft of LFA and Mexican university players]]<ref name=":3" /> where wide receiver [[Diego Viamontes]] was the first pick, selected by the Edmonton Eskimos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/eskimos-select-diego-cotera-1.4977432|title=Eskimos select Diego Jair Viamontes Cotera with historic 1st pick in CFL/LFA draft |date=January 14, 2019|first=Dan |last=Ralph |agency=The Canadian Press|website=CBC|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> The CFL announced in February 2019 that German and French football players from the [[German Football League]] and the {{ill|Fédération française de football américain|fr}} would participate in the CFL national combine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/02/05/cfl-reaches-agreement-french-american-football-federation/|title=CFL reaches agreement with French American Football Federation|date=February 5, 2019|website=CFL.ca|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-forms-strategic-partnership-with-german-league-1.5000451|title=CFL forms strategic partnership with German league |date=January 31, 2019 |agency=The Canadian Press|website=CBC|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> Throughout early 2019, Ambrosie actively travelled Europe forming partnerships between the CFL and top-level European American football leagues and associations, specifically Germany ([[German Football League|GFL]]), Austria ([[Austrian Football League|AFL]]), France (FFFA), the [[Nordic countries]] ([[National Ligaen|NL]], [[Vaahteraliiga|VL]], [[Superserien|SS]] and NAFL) and Italy ([[Italian Football League|IFL]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/football/cfl/cfl-signs-deal-with-nordic-football-federations|title=CFL signs deals with Nordic football federations |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=February 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://torontosun.com/sports/football/cfl/cflpa-urges-players-to-skip-activities-with-cfl-office-during-cba-talks |title=Ambrosie hopeful for European broadcast deals this CFL season |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=February 11, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/italy-becomes-9th-international-football-league-join-forces-cfl/ |title=Italy becomes 9th international football league to join forces with CFL |website=sportsnet.ca }}</ref> By January 2020 football leagues from 13 countries had signed partnerships with the CFL,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-reaches-co-operative-partnership-agreement-with-brazilian-federation-1.1430644|title=CFL reaches co-operative partnership agreement with Brazilian federation |agency=The Canadian Press|date=January 21, 2020|website=TSN|access-date=January 21, 2020}}</ref> these partnerships included mutual exchanging of players and coaches<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Yokota|first1=Takashi|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/28/more-sports/football/new-cfl-x-league-alliance-spans-pacific/|title=New CFL-X League alliance spans the Pacific|date=December 28, 2019|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=February 16, 2020|last2=Ikezawa|first2=Hiroshi|issn=0447-5763}}</ref> with leagues like the Mexican LFA holding reserved roster spots for Canadians with up to 25 playing in the league's 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/25-canadians-set-to-play-in-mexicos-lfa-in-2020/|title=25 Canadians set to play in Mexico's LFA in 2020|date=November 4, 2019|website=American Football International|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> In February 2020, the CFL expanded its global alliance system, welcoming the Japanese [[X-League (Japan)|X-League]], generally regarded the third-best professional gridiron league in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ninetynineyards.com/2020/01/08/how-good-is-the-x-league/|title=How good is the X-League?|date=January 8, 2020|website=Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football|access-date=February 16, 2020 |last1=Lawton |first1=Chris }}</ref> This coincided with the CFL announcing that its global combine in 2020 with new rules, including two designated active-roster international players and three practice-squad international players with as many as 45 global players in the league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/02/14/first-wave-of-global-players-invited-to-the-cfl-combine/|title=First wave of Global players invited to the CFL Combine |website=3DownNation|date=February 14, 2020 |access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref>

The league took over operations of the [[Montreal Alouettes]] prior to the 2019 season after [[Robert C. Wetenhall]], the league's last non-Canadian owner, surrendered the franchise to the league in May.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/05/31/alouettes-sold-to-the-cfl/|title=Alouettes sold to the CFL |website=3DownNation |date=May 31, 2019}}</ref> The Alouettes found new ownership in January 2020 in Crawford Steel executives Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern, whose holding company S and S Sportsco would oversee the team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/01/06/montreal-alouettes-new-owners-announced/ |title=Montreal Alouettes new owners announced |date=January 6, 2020 |website=cfl.ca |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>

On August 17, 2020, the CFL cancelled its [[2020 CFL season|2020 season]] after [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada|coronavirus-related]] [[social distancing]] mandates and travel restrictions imposed in most of Canada prevented the league from selling tickets and the league was unable to secure a bailout from the federal government to cover any losses.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 17, 2020 |last1=Ralph |first1=Dan |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-cancel-season-pandemic-1.5689252 |title=CFL cancels season after request for financial help turned down |website=CBC |access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref> It was the first cancelled season in the league's history, and the first year without a Grey Cup championship since the canceled 1916–1919 seasons. The league [[2021 CFL season|returned in 2021]], playing a shortened 14-game schedule which began that August, with the season concluding with the Grey Cup game in December for the first time since 1972.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/08/17/cfl-not-play-shortened-season-fall/ |title=CFL not to play shortened season in fall |website=cfl.ca |date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818110223/https://www.cfl.ca/2020/08/17/cfl-not-play-shortened-season-fall/ |archive-date=August 18, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-2021-season-announcement-1.5996129 |title=CFL delays start of season to August, cuts schedule to 14 games |last=Heroux |first=Devin |date=April 21, 2021 |website=cbc.ca |publisher=CBC |access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> On March 10, 2021, the then-on hiatus [[XFL (2020)|XFL]] entered into talks with the CFL over the possibility of a future collaboration;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/cfl-to-explore-opportunities-for-alignment-with-xfl-owners |title=CFL to explore opportunities for alignment with XFL owners Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson and Redbird Capital |website=XFL |date=March 10, 2021 |access-date=July 7, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310170825/https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/cfl-to-explore-opportunities-for-alignment-with-xfl-owners |archive-date=March 10, 2021 }}</ref> these discussions were called off four months later with nothing coming of them.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/07/07/statement-cfl-regarding-xfl/ |title=A Statement From The CFL Regarding The XFL|date=July 7, 2021 |website=CFL.ca |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 14, 2021 |quote=Our talks with the XFL, exploring the potential for collaboration and innovation, have been positive and constructive. While we remain open to finding new ways to work together in the future, we and our XFL counterparts have jointly decided to not pursue any formal arrangements at this time.}}</ref>

On August 29, 2022, Gary Stern of the Montreal Alouettes stepped away from day-to-day operations with the club and resigned from his role with the Canadian Football League's board of governors, effective immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=August 29, 2022 |title=Stern stepping away from Alouettes – TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/gary-stern-stepping-away-from-montreal-alouettes-1.1842089 |access-date=August 29, 2022 |website=TSN |language=en}}</ref> On February 14, 2023, the ownership of the Alouettes was transferred back to the CFL.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2023 |title=A statement from the CFL about the Montreal Alouettes |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/02/14/a-statement-from-the-cfl-about-the-montreal-alouettes/ |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=CFL.ca }}</ref> [[Mario Cecchini (businessman)|Mario Cecchini]] was appointed as the interim president while the league sought to finalize a sale to new ownership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naylor |first=Dave |date=February 14, 2023 |title=CFL takes over Montreal Alouettes ownership |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/cfl-takes-over-montreal-alouettes-ownership-1.1919037 |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}}</ref> On March 10, Quebec media mogul and former [[Parti Québécois]] leader [[Pierre Karl Péladeau]] purchased the team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Pierre Karl Péladeau acquires the Montreal Alouettes |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2023/03/10/pierre-karl-peladeau-acquires-the-montreal-alouettes/ |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=CFL.ca |language=en}}</ref> On April 11, 2024, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced league record revenue of $50.5 million and operating profit of $5.7 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers-post-2023-operating-profit-of-5-7-million-1.2102935#:~:text=Revenue%20totalled%20%2450.5%20million%20in,(10.5%20per%20cent%20increase). |title=Blue Bombers post 2023 operating profit of $5.7 million |website=TSN |date=April 11, 2024 |access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref>

On October 26, 2024, Ambrosie announced his intention to retire from the commissioner's role in 2025, once a successor is found.<ref name="Ambrosie">{{cite web |author= |date= October 26, 2024|title=Randy Ambrosie to retire from role as CFL commissioner in 2025 |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/10/26/randy-ambrosie-to-retire-from-role-as-cfl-commissioner-in-2025/ |publisher=Canadian Football League}}</ref> Ambrosie had allegedly lost a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of confidence]] among the league's owners the day prior, a report that neither the league nor Ambrosie would confirm nor deny.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2024 |title=Randy Ambrosie to end term as CFL commissioner after Grey Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/cfl/article/randy-ambrosie-to-end-term-as-cfl-commissioner-after-grey-cup/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=Sportsnet.ca |language=en}}</ref>

====Stewart Johnston era (2025–present)====
On April 2, 2025, [[The Sports Network|TSN]] president [[Stewart Johnston]] was announced as Ambrosie's successor, officially assuming the role on April 24, 2025.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stewart Johnston appointed 15th Commissioner of the Canadian Football League|website=CFL.ca|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/04/02/stewart-johnston-appointed-15th-commissioner-of-the-canadian-football-league|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=April 2, 2025}}</ref>