2025 CFL season
The 2025 CFL season was the 71st season of modern professional Canadian football. Officially, it was the 67th season of the Canadian Football League. Winnipeg hosted the 112th Grey Cup on November 16, 2025.
CFL news in 2025
Salary cap
According to the new collective bargaining agreement, the 2025 salary cap was scheduled to be set at $5,650,000. However, on February 5, 2025, the league announced that the salary cap would grow by $412,365 to reach $6,062,365. The increase was driven by the revenue growth sharing model which first went into effect in 2024, but this was the first year that it impacted the salary cap. The cap excluded unlimited non-football related services payments and preseason and playoff bonus money. The minimum player salary was set at $70,000, which remained unchanged since 2023. It was reported that the revenue growth was not determined until the last week of January and the CFL Player's Association was required to determine how they wanted the money applied, with options including increases to the salary cap, playoff bonuses, training camp stipends, and pension contributions. The timing of the announcement was questionable since the free agency negotiating window had begun three days prior with teams operating with the old salary cap figure.Commissioner change
On October 26, 2024, the league announced Randy Ambrosie's intention to retire following the 2024 CFL season. Ambrosie agreed to remain as commissioner until a successor had been named. On April 2, 2025, TSN president Stewart Johnston was announced as Ambrosie's successor, officially assuming the role on April 24.Scheduling
The schedule, released on January 16, 2025, was the latest schedule release date since the 2017 season. On January 11, it was reported that the CFL would not host any neutral site Touchdown Series games this season. However, on February 6, it was announced that the Lions would host their preseason game in Langford, British Columbia, at Starlight Stadium.The 2025 preseason ran from May 19 to May 30, the regular season ran between June 5 and October 25, and the postseason took place from November 1 to the 112th Grey Cup on November 16. After the 2024 season featured Sunday night games for the first 13 weeks of the season, the 2025 schedule had Sunday night games from week 4 to week 8 before shifting to Saturday afternoon games for 12 of the final 13 weeks of the regular season. This change helped contribute to a focus on afternoon games for clubs with 23 games starting at 4 pm local time or earlier, compared to 16 such games from 2024. The league also debuted the Stampede Bowl this year, hosted by the Calgary Stampeders on July 3, which was the day before the start of the Calgary Stampede.
Player movement
Free agency
The 2025 free agency period began on February 11 at noon ET. Pending free agents and teams were able to negotiate offers for one week starting February 2 and ending February 9. All formal offers to a player during this time were sent to both the league and the players union and could not be rescinded.Postseason
Bracket
Attendance
Ranked from highest to lowest average home attendance.| No. | Team | Home games | Total attendance | Average attendance |
| 1 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 9 | 291,087 | 32,343 |
| 2 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 9 | 255,843 | 28,427 |
| 3 | BC Lions | 9 | 244,116 | 27,124 |
| 4 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 9 | 205,722 | 22,858 |
| 5 | Calgary Stampeders | 9 | 200,655 | 22,295 |
| 6 | Montreal Alouettes | 9 | 190,188 | 21,132 |
| 7 | Edmonton Elks | 9 | 171,450 | 19,050 |
| 8 | Ottawa Redblacks | 9 | 163,224 | 18,136 |
| 9 | Toronto Argonauts | 9 | 135,981 | 15,109 |
Broadcasting
In Canada, the CFL continued to be broadcast primarily on TSN and RDS across all platforms as part of their contract, which are reported to have been extended through 2025. A select number of games were also be broadcast in Canada on CTV. Games were broadcast in the United States by CBS Sports Network. Outside of North America, the league's streaming platform, CFL+, streamed all regular season games for free. Most pre-season games were streamed worldwide for free on CFL+. Radio broadcast rights belonged to teams' local stations and SiriusXM.Award winners
CFL Honour Roll
| Month | Quarterback | Running back | Receiver | Offensive lineman | Defensive lineman | Linebacker | Defensive back | Returner | Kicker/Punter | Special teams | Offensive line |
| June | Davis Alexander | A.J. Ouellette | Samuel Emilus | Jermarcus Hardrick | Jaylon Hutchings | Geoffrey Cantin-Arku | Cristophe Beaulieu | Javon Leake | Cody Grace | Tyron Vrede | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| July | Trevor Harris | James Butler | Damonte Coxie | Coulter Woodmansey | Julian Howsare | Derrick Moncrief | Damon Webb | Isaiah Wooden | Sean Whyte | Bennett Williams | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| August | Vernon Adams Jr. | Justin Rankin | Keon Hatcher | Jarell Broxton | Willie Jefferson | Wynton McManis | Kobe Williams | Trey Vaval | Sergio Castillo | Tyrell Richards | Calgary Stampeders |
| September | Nathan Rourke | Justin Rankin | Justin McInnis | Jarell Broxton | Clarence Hicks | Jovan Santos-Knox | Kordell Jackson | Seven McGee | Marc Liegghio | Jake Kelly | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| October | Trevor Harris | Dedrick Mills | Keon Hatcher | Jermarcus Hardrick | Mike Rose | Najee Murray | Jackson Findlay | Seven McGee | Lirim Hajrullahu | Adam Auclair | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
Pro Football Focus
| Award | Winner | Honourable mentions |
| Most Outstanding Player | Trevor Harris | Nathan Rourke James Butler Jaylon Hutchings |
| Most Outstanding Defensive Player | Jaylon Hutchings | Malik Carney Tevaughn Campbell Stavros Katsantonis |
| Most Outstanding Rookie | Christopher Fortin | Derek Slywka Damien Alford Travis Theis |
| Most Outstanding Canadian | Nathan Rourke | Tevaughn Campbell Stavros Katsantonis Adrian Greene |
| Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman | Jermarcus Hardrick | Jarell Broxton Coulter Woodmansey Nick Callender |
| John Agro Special Teams Award | Isaiah Wooden | Sergio Castillo José Maltos Díaz Alexandre Gagné |
| Annis Stukus Trophy | Dave Dickenson | Corey Mace Scott Milanovich |
| Award | Winner | Honourable mentions |
| Most Outstanding Player | Nathan Rourke | Trevor Harris Bo Levi Mitchell Jaylon Hutchings |
| Most Outstanding Defensive Player | Jaylon Hutchings | Julian Howsare Tyrice Beverette Clarence Hicks Tevaughn Campbell |
| Most Outstanding Rookie | Trey Vaval | Robert Carter Jr. Jaydon Grant Christopher Fortin Derek Slywka |
| Most Outstanding Canadian | Nathan Rourke | Mathieu Betts Tevaughn Campbell Nic Demski |
| Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman | Jermarcus Hardrick | Jarell Broxton Nick Callender Liam Dobson |
| John Agro Special Teams Award | Lirim Hajrullahu | Trey Vaval José Maltos Díaz Isaiah Wooden |
| Annis Stukus Trophy | Corey Mace | Dave Dickenson Scott Milanovich |
3DownNation
| Award | Winner | Runner-ups |
| Most Outstanding Player | Bo Levi Mitchell | Vernon Adams Jr. Kenny Lawler |
| Most Outstanding Defensive Player | Jaylon Hutchings | Jameer Thurman Derrick Moncrief |
| Most Outstanding Canadian | Nathan Rourke | Stavros Katsantonis Adrian Greene |
| Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman | Jermarcus Hardrick | Logan Ferland Pier-Olivier Lestage |
| Most Outstanding Special Teams Player | Isaiah Wooden | José Maltos Díaz Kalil Pimpleton |
| Most Outstanding Rookie | Derek Slywka | Christopher Fortin Travis Theis |
| Coach of the Year | Corey Mace | Scott Milanovich Dave Dickenson |
| Award | Winner | Runner-ups |
| Most Outstanding Player | Nathan Rourke | Bo Levi Mitchell Justin Rankin |
| Most Outstanding Defensive Player | Jaylon Hutchings | Tyrice Beverette Julian Howsare |
| Most Outstanding Canadian | Nathan Rourke | Mathieu Betts Tevaughn Campbell |
| Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman | Jermarcus Hardrick | Jarell Broxton Liam Dobson |
| Most Outstanding Special Teams Player | Trey Vaval | Lirim Hajrullahu Tyrell Richards |
| Most Outstanding Rookie | Trey Vaval | Robert Carter Jr. Christopher Fortin |
| Coach of the Year | Corey Mace | Buck Pierce Dave Dickenson |
2025 All-CFL teams
2025 All-CFL team
''Source''Offence
- QB – Nathan Rourke, BC Lions
- RB – Dedrick Mills, Calgary Stampeders
- R – Justin McInnis, BC Lions
- R – Keon Hatcher, BC Lions
- R – Kenny Lawler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- R – KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- R – Tyler Snead, Montreal Alouettes
- OT – Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- OT – Jarell Broxton, BC Lions
- OG – Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- OG – Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- C – Logan Ferland, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Defence
- DT – Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders
- DT – Micah Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- DE – Mathieu Betts, BC Lions
- DE – Julian Howsare, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- LB – Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes
- LB – Jameer Thurman, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CLB – C.J. Reavis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CB – Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CB – Jamal Peters, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- HB – Rolan Milligan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- HB – Evan Holm, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- S – Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Special teams
- K – Lirim Hajrullahu, Toronto Argonauts
- P – Mark Vassett, Calgary Stampeders
- ST – Trey Vaval, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2025 Western All-CFL team
''Source''Offence
- QB – Nathan Rourke, BC Lions
- RB – Dedrick Mills, Calgary Stampeders
- R – Justin McInnis, BC Lions
- R – Dohnte Meyers, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- R – Keon Hatcher, BC Lions
- R – KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- R – Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- OT – Jarell Broxton, BC Lions
- OT – Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- OG – Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- OG – Zack Williams, Calgary Stampeders
- C – Logan Ferland, Saskatchewan
Defence
- DT – Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders
- DT – Micah Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- DE – Mathieu Betts, BC Lions
- DE – Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders
- LB – Jameer Thurman, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- LB – Tony Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- CLB – C.J. Reavis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CB – Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- CB – Adrian Greene, Calgary Stampeders
- HB – Rolan Milligan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- HB – Evan Holm, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- S – Damon Webb, Calgary Stampeders
Special teams
- K – Sean Whyte, BC Lions
- P – Mark Vassett, Calgary Stampeders
- ST – Trey Vaval, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2025 Eastern All-CFL team
''Source''Offence
- QB – Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- RB – Greg Bell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- R – Justin Hardy, Ottawa Redblacks
- R – Kenny Lawler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- R – Kiondre Smith, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- R – Eugene Lewis, Ottawa Redblacks
- R – Tyler Snead, Montreal Alouettes
- OT – Quinton Barrow, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- OT – Nick Callender, Montreal Alouettes
- OG – Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- OG – Pier-Olivier Lestage, Montreal Alouettes
- C – Justin Lawrence, Montreal Alouettes
Defence
- DT – Casey Sayles, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- DT – Shawn Oakman, Montreal Alouettes
- DE – Julian Howsare, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- DE – Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Montreal Alouettes
- LB – Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes
- LB – Darnell Sankey, Montreal Alouettes
- CLB – Adarius Pickett, Ottawa Redblacks
- CB – Jamal Peters, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- CB – Tarvarus McFadden, Toronto Argonauts
- HB – DaShaun Amos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- HB – Wesley Sutton, Montreal Alouettes
- S – Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Special teams
- K – Lirim Hajrullahu, Toronto Argonauts
- P – Joseph Zema, Montreal Alouettes
- ST – Tyrell Richards, Montreal Alouettes
2025 CFL awards
- Tom Pate Memorial Award – Andrew Peirson, BC Lions
- Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy – Logan Ferland, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Commissioner's Award – Wade Miller, President and CEO Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award –
- Jane Mawby Tribute Award – Carol Barrott, Longtime Winnipeg Manager of Ticketing and Fan Services