Editing Montreal Alouettes (section)

=== Anthony Calvillo era (1998–2013) ===
{{Original research|section|date=April 2015}}The fortunes for the Alouettes started to change during the [[1998 CFL season|1998 season]], when they acquired a young free agent quarterback from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, [[Anthony Calvillo]], and they drafted [[slotback]] [[Ben Cahoon]]. [[Tracy Ham]] and [[Mike Pringle (Canadian football)|Mike Pringle]] led the team to a second-place finish, but they suffered a last-second loss to the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] in the East Final. The Alouettes finally broke through in 1999, under new head coach [[Charlie Taaffe]], winning their first division title since 1979. However, for the fourth consecutive season they lost the East Final match in a close game against the Tiger-Cats, 27–26.

Tracy Ham retired after the [[1999 CFL season|1999 season]], and Anthony Calvillo took over as the full-time starting quarterback, he led the team to their first Grey Cup final since 1979, losing to BC in a close game, as they came within a missed two point convert of sending the game into overtime. After the season Charlie Taaffe resigned to become the head coach of  the [[Maryland Terrapins]]. The next season started under new coach [[Rod Rust]] at 9–2, but after Calvillo separated his shoulder, the team started struggling and after losing all their remaining games, GM Jim Popp fired Rust, led them into the playoffs, where they lost to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Semi-Final.

During the off-season, the Alouettes signed [[Don Matthews]] to lead the team in the future. They came all the way back in 2002, finishing with the best record (13–5) in the CFL and winning their first Grey Cup since 1977, by defeating one of their oldest rivals, and Matthews' former team, the [[Edmonton Eskimos]], 25–16. The Alouettes had the best record in the CFL during the [[2004 CFL season|2004 season]] at 14–4 and looked liked a sure bet to play for the Grey Cup, but in the East Final, Anthony Calvillo got hurt, and was replaced by backup [[Ted White (American football)|Ted White]], and the Toronto Argonauts rallied to defeat the Alouettes, 26–18. During the 2004–2005 off-season, all time CFL career rushing yards leader Mike Pringle signed a one-day contract, so he could retire as a member of the Montreal Alouettes. The team participated in the first Grey Cup overtime game in almost 50 years. The Edmonton Eskimos defeated the Alouettes, 38–35.

During the [[2006 CFL season|2006 season]] Matthews left his position as head coach near the end of the season because of health reasons, and Jim Popp took over for the rest of the season, leading the team to the Grey Cup, where they lost 25–14 to the B.C Lions.

Popp stayed on to coach the team during the [[2007 CFL season|2007 season]], and the team suffered its first losing season since coming back to Montreal in 1996, with an 8–10 record, hindered by the loss of starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who left the team near the end of the season to be with his wife who was sick. The team lost the East Semi-Final, 24–22, to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with backup quarterback [[Marcus Brady]] behind center. With Montreal hosting the [[2008 Grey Cup]], the Alouettes wanted to be there, so they hired an experienced NFL assistant coach in [[Marc Trestman]], and head coach Trestman helped lead them to an 11–7 record and a berth in the Grey Cup against the visiting [[Calgary Stampeders]] led by [[Henry Burris]]. The Stampeders defeated the hometown Montreal Alouettes, 22–14, in front of over 66,000 fans.

The [[2009 CFL season|2009 season]] was a record breaking season for the Montreal Alouettes, as they set a team record for wins in a regular season, were a CFL best 15–3, and their defence was amazing, as they allowed only 324 points, second least in an 18-game season. Marc Trestman won the coach of the year. The Alouettes earned a 28–27 comeback victory in the 2009 Grey Cup, thanks to the great play of Anthony Calvillo, Ben Cahoon, and [[Jamel Richardson]]. The Alouettes trailed the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 27–11, with 8 minutes to play in the game, when they started their comeback. It all came down to the foot of field goal kicker [[Damon Duval]], who after missing a 43-yard field on the last play, got a second chance, when the Roughriders were called for having too many players on the field (The 13th Man), which was a ten-yard penalty, so kicking from the 33 yard line, Duval nailed it through the uprights, giving Montreal an improbable Grey Cup victory, after trailing the entire game. The game turned into a Grey Cup classic, thanks to the great play of the Alouettes veterans, and broke a streak of 4 straight losses in Grey Cups. The [[2010 CFL season|2010 season]] was another good season for Montreal, as they went 12–6 and became the first team since the 1997 Toronto Argonauts to repeat as Grey Cup Champions. They played against the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the second straight year, and won the game, 21–18, repeating as champs.

The 2011 season was another record breaking year for Anthony Calvillo, as he broke numerous records, all against the Argonauts. During their first meeting Calvillo broke the CFL all time touchdown passes record of 394 TD passes on a pass to [[Eric Deslauriers]], [[Damon Allen]] was at the game at Molson Stadium and personally congratulated him on breaking his record. He tied Allen's record in Regina the week before with the only touchdown pass ever caught by [[Tim Maypray]]. During the teams' second meeting, he broke the completions record with a completion to [[Brandon London]]. In the teams' third meeting, Anthony Calvillo became pro football's all-time career passing yards leader, on a Jamel Richardson touchdown pass to end the third quarter. The play was stopped as his family joined him along with Mark Cohan for a special on field presentation and video tribute. NFL greats Warren Moon and Dan Marino, ESPN's [[Chris Berman]], and Damon Allen each sent video messages congratulating him on breaking the record. Calvillo was presented with a special plaque, with the number 72382, the new pro football all-time yardage mark. The team lost an overtime thriller in the East Semi-Final at the Olympic Stadium 52–44 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The [[2012 CFL season|2012 season]] was another good year for the Alouettes; however, after an 11–7 season, they lost the East final to the Toronto Argonauts after [[Brian Bratton]] dropped a game-tying touchdown pass from Calvillo with a minute left in the game, giving Toronto a 27–20 win.

Before the 2013 season, coach Marc Trestman left the Alouettes for the NFL, becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bears. [[Dan Hawkins (American football)|Dan Hawkins]], who had no pro experience, was hired as head coach. After starting the season with a 2–3 record, Jim Popp fired Hawkins, and coached the team for the rest of the year. Calvillo suffered a season-ending concussion in Saskatchewan on a hit by [[Ricky Foley]]. Heisman Trophy winner [[Troy Smith]], [[Tanner Marsh]] and [[Josh Neiswander]] played at quarterback for the Alouettes for the remainder of the season. The team had an 8–10 record, and made the playoffs for an 18th straight year. They lost the East Semi-Final against the Tiger-Cats.

Anthony Calvillo announced his retirement on January 21, after a 20-year career, including the last 16 with the Alouettes.