The 1985 CFL season is considered to be the 32nd 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 28th

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 c ...

season.

CFL News in 1985

The

CFL 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 ...

adopted a regular season overtime format that will consist of two-minute halves (no sudden death), which would be implemented for the 1986 season. In addition, the CFL changed the playoff overtime format from two ten-minute halves (with no sudden death) to two five-minute halves (no sudden death).

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. *''BC and Hamilton have first round byes.''

Grey Cup playoffs

The

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first seas ...

are the 1985

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

champions, defeating the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fie ...

37–24, at

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple- ...

Olympic Stadium ''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games. An Olympic stadium is the site of the opening and closing ceremonies. Many, though not all, of these venues actually contain the words ''Olympic Stadium'' as ...

. This was BC's first Grey Cup victory since

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...

. The Lions'

Roy Dewalt Roy Dewalt (born September 4, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League quarterback who, in a career lasting nine years, played for the BC Lions between 1980 and 1987, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Rough Riders in 1988. He led the Lion ...

(QB) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and James "Quick" Parker (DE) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence, while Lui Passaglia (K/P) was named 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 * CFL Rushing Leaders * CFL Receiving Leaders

1985 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Matt Dunigan Matt Dunigan (born December 6, 1960) is an American broadcaster and former professional football player and executive. He is a Canadian Football League (CFL) sportscaster for Canadian sports television channel TSN. Dunigan is a former quarterb ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

Willard Reaves Willard Sheldon Reaves (born August 17, 1959) is an American-Canadian former professional gridiron football running back who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canadian Football League, and for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB –

Keyvan Jenkins Keyvan Lewis Jenkins (born January 6, 1961 in Stockton, California) is a former running back who played 8 seasons in the Canadian Football League. He also played two seasons in the National Football League The National Football League ...

, BC Lions *SB –

Joe Poplawski Joe Poplawski (born August 2, 1957) is a former professional Canadian football receiver who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1978 to 1986. Professional career Poplawski was originally a territorial ex ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *TE – Ray Elgaard, Saskatchewan Roughriders *WR – Mervyn Fernandez, BC Lions *WR –

Jeff Boyd Jeff Boyd (born April 17, 1958 in Riverside, California) was a Canadian Football League receiver for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts who, in a 9-year career from 1983–1991, caught 69 touchdown passes. He won two Grey Cu ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –

John Bonk John Bonk (born August 27, 1950 in Stoney Creek, Ontario) is a former all-star offensive lineman in the Canadian Football League. The four-time All-Star played from 1973 to 1985 for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Bonk won the CFL's Most Outstandin ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG – Dan Ferrone, Toronto Argonauts *OG – Nick Bastaja, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – John Blain, BC Lions *OT – Chris Walby, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT –

Mike Gray Harold Michael Gray (October 26, 1935 – April 30, 2013) was an American writer, screenwriter, cinematographer, film producer and director. Career Film and TV In 1965, Mike Gray and Jim Dennett co-founded The Film Group, a Chicago film pro ...

, BC Lions *DT – James Curry, Toronto Argonauts *DE –

Grover Covington Grover Covington (born March 25, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Professional career Covington's career began in 1981 as a free agent signing ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – James "Quick" Parker, BC Lions *LB – Ben Zambiasi, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Tyrone Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *LB –

Kevin Konar Kevin Konar (born July 8, 1958 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a former star linebacker for the BC Lions. After playing his university football with the University of British Columbia, Konar would play 10 years with the Leos, from 1980 to 1989, ...

, BC Lions *DB –

Darnell Clash Darnell Clash (born June 18, 1962) is a former American football defensive back who played four seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts. He played college football at the University of Wyoming. Coll ...

, BC Lions *DB –

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 ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Ken Hailey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB –

Howard Fields Howard Fields may refer to: * Howard Fields (gridiron football) * Howard Fields (neuroscientist) * Howard Fields (musician) {{hndis, Fields, Howard ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB –

Paul Bennett Paul Bennett may refer to: * Paul Bennett (Canadian football) (born 1954), Canadian football player *Paul Bennett (footballer, born 1952), English footballer * Paul Bennett (footballer, born 1961), English footballer * Paul Bennett (rower) (born 19 ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Special teams

*P – Ken Clark, Ottawa Rough Riders *K – Trevor Kennerd, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1985 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Ken Hobart Kenneth Charles Hobart (born January 27, 1961) is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the USFL and CFL, where he played from 1985–1990. Collegiate career Hobart played college football at the University of Idaho from 1980 ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *RB – Bob Bronk, Toronto Argonauts *RB –

Lester Brown Lester Russel Brown (born March 28, 1934) is an American environmental analyst, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, and founder and former president of the Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. B ...

, Ottawa Rough Riders *SB – Mike McTague, Montreal Concordes *TE – Nick Arakgi, Montreal Concordes *WR – Terry Greer, Toronto Argonauts *WR –

Steve Stapler Steve Stapler (born June 28, 1958) is a former Canadian football wide receiver in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, appearing in the Grey Cup final with the Ti-Cats in 1984, 1985, a ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *C –

Marv Allemang Marv Allemang (born 3 December 1953) is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman and defensive lineman who played 14 seasons in the Canadian Football League. He most notably played center for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OG – Dan Ferrone, Toronto Argonauts *OG –

Lloyd Fairbanks Lloyd Fairbanks (born April 28, 1953, in Raymond, Alberta) is a former Canadian Football League offensive lineman who played seventeen seasons in the CFL. Fairbanks was named to the CFL's All-Star team 5 times. Fairbanks was announced as a mem ...

, Montreal Concordes *OT – Roger Cattelan, Ottawa Rough Riders *OT – Kevin Powell, Ottawa Rough Riders

Defence

*DT –

Doug Scott Douglas Keith Scott (29 May 19417 December 2020) was an English mountaineer, noted for being on the team that made the first ascent of the south-west face of Mount Everest on 24 September 1975. In receiving one of mountaineering's highest hon ...

, Montreal Concordes *DT – James Curry, Toronto Argonauts *DE –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Lloyd Lewis, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB – Ben Zambiasi, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Rick Sowieta, Ottawa Rough Riders *LB –

William Mitchell William Mitchell may refer to: People Media and the arts * William Mitchell (sculptor) (1925–2020), English sculptor and muralist * William Frederick Mitchell (1845–1914), British naval artist * William M. Mitchell, American writer, minister ...

, Toronto Argonauts *DB –

Carl Brazley Carl Eugene Brazley (born September 5, 1957 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former football player in the Canadian Football League for thirteen years. Brazley played defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argona ...

, Toronto Argonauts *DB –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB – Ricky Barden, Ottawa Rough Riders *DB –

Howard Fields Howard Fields may refer to: * Howard Fields (gridiron football) * Howard Fields (neuroscientist) * Howard Fields (musician) {{hndis, Fields, Howard ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DB –

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Special teams

*P – Ken Clark, Ottawa Rough Riders *K –

Bernie Ruoff Bernie Ruoff (born October 12, 1951) is a former punter and placekicker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1975 to 1979 and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1980 to 1987 of the Canadian Football League. He finished his CFL career in 1988, playing 5 ...

, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

1985 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB –

, BC Lions *SB –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *TE – Ray Elgaard, Saskatchewan Roughriders *WR – Mervyn Fernandez, BC Lions *WR –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *C –

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OG –

Leo Blanchard Leo Blanchard (born March 12, 1955, in Edmonton, Alberta) is a former professional Canadian football offensive lineman who played between 1979 and 1991 in the Canadian Football League, mainly for the Edmonton Eskimos, but also for the Calgary S ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Nick Bastaja, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – John Blain, BC Lions *OT – Chris Walby, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT –

, BC Lions *DT – Rick Klassen, BC Lions *DE –

Tony Norman Anthony Joseph Norman (born 24 February 1958) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City, Sunderland and Huddersfield Town. He holds the record for consecutive appearances for Hull City, playing 226 conse ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DE – James "Quick" Parker, BC Lions *LB –

Dan Bass Danny Bass (born March 31, 1958) is a former linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts in 1980, Calgary Stampeders from 1981–1983 and the Edmonton Eskimos from 1984-1991 of the Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Tyrone Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *LB –

, BC Lions *LB – Glen Jackson, BC Lions *DB –

, BC Lions *DB –

Dave Shaw David John Shaw (20 July 1954 – 8 January 2005) was an Australian scuba diver, technical diver, and airline pilot for Cathay Pacific, flying the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, then the 747-400, and then the A330-300, A340-300, and A340-600. H ...

, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Ken Hailey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Wiley Turner, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Melvin Byrd, BC Lions *DB – Scott Flagel, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Special teams

*P –

Tom Dixon Tom or Tommy Dixon may refer to: *Tom Dixon (American football) (born 1961), American football player * Tom Dixon (catcher) (1906–1982), Negro league baseball catcher * Tom Dixon (pitcher) (born 1955), Major League Baseball pitcher * Tom Dixon (C ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *K – Trevor Kennerd, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

1985 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 ...

– Mervyn Fernandez (WR), BC Lions * CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award –

(DB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats *

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. ...

– Tyrone Jones (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 ...

– Nick Bastaja (OT), Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

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 ...

–

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

Tyrone Crews Tyrone Crews was a linebacker in the Canadian Football League playing 7 seasons with the BC Lions. A graduate of Kansas State University, Crews joined the Leos in 1981 and was part of their 1985 Grey Cup championship team. He was winner of the To ...

(LB), BC Lions * CFL's Coach of the Year –

Don Matthews Donald J. Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", (June 22, 1939 – June 14, 2017) was a head coach of several professional football teams, mostly in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He won 231 games in the CFL, the second highest win total by a head ...

, BC Lions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1985 Cfl Season

Canadian Football League seasons