The 1991 CFL season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football () is a sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's scoring area ( ...

, although it is officially the 34th

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

season.

CFL News in 1991

Harry Ornest Harry Ornest (June 30, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was a sports entrepreneur who once owned the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also played minor league baseba ...

sold the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...

Bruce McNall Bruce Patrick McNall (born April 17, 1950) is an American former Thoroughbred racehorse owner, sports executive, and convicted felon who once owned the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canad ...

Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...

and

John Candy John Franklin Candy (October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994) was a Canadian actor and comedian known mainly for his work in Hollywood films. Candy rose to fame in the 1970s as a member of the Toronto branch of the Second City and its '' SCTV'' seri ...

on Monday, February 25. On Wednesday, July 24, the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Rough Riders resigned, causing the CFL to assume the ownership duties of the franchise, two days later. Three months later, the Rough Riders were sold by the CFL to Bernie and Lonie Glieberman on Saturday, October 19. Furthermore, the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-o ...

was purchased by

Larry Ryckman Lawrence G. Ryckman (born August 28, 1959, Toronto) is a music industry executive known for his knowledge of audio production and mastering and the development of patented audio and video technologies used in the music and entertainment industr ...

from Stampeder Football Club Limited on Friday, October 24. All eight clubs combined for a record 64.2 points per game and attendance figures broke the 2 million mark for the 10th time in CFL history (2,001,858). The Grey Cup game was hosted by the city of

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...

for the first time on Sunday, November 24. In that game, the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders 36–21 in front of 51,985 football fans. The Grey Cup game was also the most-watched

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

television show with an audience of 3,531,000 viewers. J. Donald Crump resigned as

CFL Commissioner The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

on Tuesday, December 31. After the shutdown of the

Canadian Football Network The Canadian Football Network (CFN) was the official television syndication service of the Canadian Football League from 1987 to 1990. History Background CFN broadcasts mainly aired on stations via the Atlantic Satellite Network and future G ...

, this left the CFL with two television outlets: CBC Television, which had coverage for some regular season games and exclusive coverage of all CFL playoff games, including the Grey Cup game, and TSN on cable, airing some regular season games.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Edmonton and Toronto have first round byes.''

Grey Cup playoffs

The

are the 1991 Grey Cup champions, defeating the

36–21, at

Winnipeg Stadium Canad Inns Stadium (also known as Winnipeg Stadium) was a multipurpose stadium in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The stadium was located at the corner of St. James Street and Maroons Road, immediately north of the Polo Park Shopping Centre and th ...

. This was the first championship for the Argonauts in eight years. The Argonauts’ Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (WR) was named the

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is awarded annually since 1959 to the player of the winning team who deemed to have had the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game. This award is prese ...

and Stampeder's

Dave Sapunjis David B. Sapunjis (born September 7, 1967 in Toronto, Ontario) is a former wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders from 1990-1997. Sapunjis won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award two times and was the Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian three ...

(SB) was the

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian The Dick Suderman Trophy (french: Trophée Dick Suderman) for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian (''Le Canadien le plus précieux de la Coupe Grey'') is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup ...

Playoff bracket

CFL Leaders

CFL Passing Leaders The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

CFL Rushing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian F ...

CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders *List of Canadian ...

1991 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Doug Flutie Douglas Richard Flutie (born October 23, 1962) is an American former football quarterback whose professional career spanned 21 seasons. He played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), eight seasons in the Canadian Football League (CF ...

, BC Lions *FB – Blake Marshall, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

Robert Mimbs Robert Mimbs (born August 6, 1964, in Kansas City, Missouri) was a star Canadian Football League running back who played six seasons for three teams. He was named CFL All-Star three times and he won the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy in 1991 and ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Matt Clark, BC Lions *SB –

Allen Pitts Allen Pitts (born June 28, 1964) is a former receiver for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League from 1990 to 2000. He attended Cal-State Fullerton and played his entire professional career as a receiver for the Calgary Stampeders. ...

, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Ray Alexander, BC Lions *WR – Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Toronto Argonauts *C – Rod Connop, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Leo Groenewegen, BC Lions *OG –

Dan Ferrone Dan Ferrone (born April 3, 1958) is a former professional Canadian football player. He played with the Toronto Argonauts for 8 seasons, interrupted by one season with the Calgary Stampeders, in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was an offens ...

, Toronto Argonauts *OT – Jim Mills, BC Lions *OT – Chris Walby, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT –

Harold Hallman Harold Hallman (December 10, 1962 – December 23, 2005) was a Canadian Football League defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the CFL, mainly for the Toronto Argonauts. Hallman was a four-time All Star and won a Grey Cup with Toronto in ...

, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Brett Williams, Edmonton Eskimos *DE – Will Johnson, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Mike Campbell, Toronto Argonauts *LB – Willie Pless, Edmonton Eskimos *LB –

Darryl Ford Darryl Ford (born June 22, 1966) is a former gridiron football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at New Mexico State. Early years Ford was born and grew ...

, Toronto Argonauts *LB –

Greg Battle Greg Battle (born April 14, 1964) is a former Canadian Football League linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He graduated from Arizona State University. He had a tryout with the Denver Broncos of the NFL but turned north to Canada in 1987. ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB –

Less Browne Less Browne (born December 7, 1959) is a former American football defensive back who played in the United States Football League and the Canadian Football League for the Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Winnipeg Blue Bombe ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Junior Thurman, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Darryl Hall, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Don Wilson, Toronto Argonauts *DS –

Glen Suitor Robert Glen Suitor (born November 24, 1962) is a Canadian sports broadcaster and retired football defensive back who played eleven seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Currently, he broadcasts CFL games ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Special teams

*P –

Hank Ilesic Henry "Hank" Ilesic (born September 7, 1959, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former all-star punter in the Canadian Football League. He also handled place kicking and kickoffs. He was twice an all-star punter and played in the CFL for 19 seasons. He pl ...

, Toronto Argonauts *K –

Lance Chomyc Lance Chomyc (born March 2, 1963) is a former placekicker from 1985 to 1993 for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1986 and 1991, he was a CFL All-Star. He was most recently an English teacher at Bear Creek Secondary Scho ...

, Toronto Argonauts *ST – Henry "Gizmo" Williams, Edmonton Eskimos

1991 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Damon Allen Damon L. Allen (born July 29, 1963) is a former professional quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is currently fourth in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *FB –

David Conrad David Conrad (born August 17, 1967) is an American actor. From 2005 to 2010, he starred in the television series ''Ghost Whisperer'' alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt. Early life Conrad is the youngest of three sons born to James Watson Conrad, an ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *RB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Rob Crifo, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Darrell Smith, Toronto Argonauts *WR – David Williams, Toronto Argonauts *WR – Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Toronto Argonauts *C – Irv Daymond, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG –

Gerald Roper Gerald Roper (born November 7, 1959) is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played 11 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for two different teams. He was a part of the BC Lions Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *OG –

, Toronto Argonauts *OT –

Chris Schultz Christopher Schultz (February 16, 1960 – March 4, 2021) was a Canadian professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He primarily played with the CFL Toronto A ...

, Toronto Argonauts *OT – Chris Walby, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT –

, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Lloyd Lewis, Ottawa Rough Riders *DE – Brian Warren, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Mike Campbell, Toronto Argonauts *LB – Brian Bonner, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB –

, Toronto Argonauts *LB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Reggie Pleasant, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Anthony Drawhorn, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB – Don Wilson, Toronto Argonauts *DS – Scott Flagel, Ottawa Rough Riders

Special teams

*P –

, Toronto Argonauts *K –

, Toronto Argonauts *ST – Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Toronto Argonauts

1991 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, BC Lions *FB – Blake Marshall, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

Jon Volpe Jon Volpe is a former running back in the Canadian Football League. Early life Volpe had a difficult childhood. His father left when he was 5 years old, his mother was an alcoholic and lived on the street, and his brother went to jail several tim ...

, BC Lions *SB – Matt Clark, BC Lions *SB –

, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Ray Alexander, BC Lions *WR – Jim Sandusky, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Rod Connop, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Leo Groenewegen, BC Lions *OG – Roger Aldag, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OT – Jim Mills, BC Lions *OT – Vic Stevenson, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Defence

*DT – Gary Lewis, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DT – Brett Williams, Edmonton Eskimos *DE – Will Johnson, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Stewart Hill, BC Lions *LB – Willie Pless, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – O.J. Brigance, BC Lions *LB – Alondra Johnson, Calgary Stampeders *CB – Eddie Thomas, Edmonton Eskimos *CB – Junior Thurman, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Darryl Hall, Calgary Stampeders *DB – Enis Jackson, Edmonton Eskimos *DS –

, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Special teams

*P –

Brent Matich Brent may refer to: *Brent (name), an English given and surname Place name ;In the United States *Brent, Alabama *Brent, Florida *Brent, Georgia *Brent, Missouri, a ghost town *Brent, Oklahoma ;In the United Kingdom * Brent, Cornwall *Brent ...

, Calgary Stampeders *K –

Dave Ridgway David Ridgway (born April 24, 1959) is a former placekicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. His CFL career began in 1981 when he was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. He did not make the squad that year and retur ...

, Saskatchewan Roughriders *ST – Henry "Gizmo" Williams, Edmonton Eskimos

1991 CFL Awards

CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award The Most Outstanding Player Award is annually awarded to the best player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Terry Evanshen Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy winner from ...

–

(QB), BC Lions * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Blake Marshall (FB), Edmonton Eskimos *

CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian football League. The winner of the award is selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada along with the head coaches in the CFL. ...

–

(LB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award The Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award is annually awarded to the best offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Leo Dandurand Trophy winner from the East Division, and the DeMarco-Becket Memor ...

– Jim Mills (OT), BC Lions *

CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award The Most Outstanding Rookie Award is annually awarded to the player judged to be the best player in his first year in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Frank M. Gibson Trophy winner from the East Division, and the ...

–

(RB), BC Lions * CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award –

Stu Laird Stuart Laird (born July 8, 1960) is a former professional Canadian football defensive tackle who played thirteen seasons for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a graduate of the University of Calgary where he was a ...

(LB), Calgary Stampeders * CFL's Coach of the Year –

Adam Rita Adam Rita (born September 21, 1947) is a gridiron football coach & general manager, most notably in the Canadian Football League. He has served as the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders, and BC Lions and as general manage ...

, Toronto Argonauts * Commissioner's Award - Jake Matheson, Winnipeg

References

{{CFL seasons CFL

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phi ...