Canadian Football History

CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada - Canadian Football History On Friday February 2, 1996, the Canadian Football League officially ended its American expansion efforts. During the CFL’s annual winter meetings, the league announced that the Birmingham Barracudas, ...

ICYMI, here's the latest article on Canadian Football History.

"CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada"

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/05/c...

#cfl

CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada - Canadian Football History On Friday February 2, 1996, the Canadian Football League officially ended its American expansion efforts. During the CFL’s annual winter meetings, the league announced that the Birmingham Barracudas, ...

Here's the latest article on Canadian Football History

"CFL Ends U.S. Expansion, Retreats Back to Canada"

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/03/05/c...

#cfl

The scoreboard at Independence Stadium in Shreveport before the preseason game between Shreveport and Baltimore (1994).

On June 24, 1994, the Shreveport Pirates hosted the Baltimore CFL Colts in a preseason game at Independence Stadium. Here's a picture of the stadium scoreboard published in the Shreveport Times. This was a few weeks before a court injunction prevented Baltimore from using the name "Colts." #cfl

Aye matey. Correct. 😁

Pirate Ball weekly publication in the Shreveport Times

Pirate Ball was a weekly publication of the Shreveport Times, a guide to the Shreveport Pirates and the CFL. Here is the cover of the first issue previewing the Pirates' first ever regular season game in Ottawa. The Rough Riders defeated the Pirates 40-10. #cfl

Pirate Ball Comes to the CFL - Canadian Football History Of all the U.S. cities that the CFL awarded teams to as part of its American expansion in the 1990s, Shreveport had to be the most obscure choice. Whereas the other cities had teams in the defunct Wor...

Here's the latest article on Canadian Football History.

"Pirate Ball Comes to the CFL"

In 1994 and 1995, the Shreveport Pirates played in the CFL. They ceased operations when the CFL ended its U.S. expansion. #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/27/p...

Advertisement for Shreveport Pirates family season tickets (Shreveport Times, 1994)

A final CFL USA themed article is coming (hopefully tomorrow). This one is all about the Shreveport Pirates.

The Pirates played their home games at Independence Stadium for two seasons (1994 and 1995).

#cfl

A Fan Remembers the Baltimore Stallions - Canadian Football History Doug Phillips was just five years old when his father took him to his first football game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. He got to see the Johnny Unitas, the legendary quarterback of the ...

The Pigskin Pete character is the main cheerleader for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, leading fans in the famous Oskee Wee Wee. The Big Wheel led Baltimore fans in the C-O-L-T-S cheer at NFL and CFL games. Photo was sent to me by Doug Phillips, a fan of the Baltimore CFL Colts/Stallions.

Paul Weiler (RIP) aka Pigskin Pete and Len “The Big Wheel” Burrier

Happy Friday! Here's a photo of two cheerleading legends in football: Paul Weiler (RIP) aka Pigskin Pete and Len “The Big Wheel” Burrier.

Fancy a bit of CFL history? Fancy Rugby?

Follow these lineages to see how the CFL was shaped today via its rugby roots.

When did you start following your team?

Ps. 🍪& a 🥃 If you were can recall a match from IRFU/WIFU days and share it with us below.

#cfl #history #Rugby

A Fan Remembers the Baltimore Stallions - Canadian Football History Doug Phillips was just five years old when his father took him to his first football game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. He got to see the Johnny Unitas, the legendary quarterback of the ...

A Fan Remembers the Baltimore Stallions

Here's the latest from Canadian Football History. There's a story within the story about Hamilton's Pigskin Pete meeting Baltimore's Big Wheel. #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/11/a...

Black History Month: The Pioneers — Robert Ellis Jackson and Gabe Patterson - Saskatchewan Roughriders A gridiron trailblazer’s blazing speed was on display the first time he touched the ball for the Roughriders. Robert Ellis (Stonewall) Jackson gained 45 yards on his introductory carry when the Roughr...

Black History Month - #Roughriders #CFL

Note: Calgary Stampeders protest of Gabe Patterson (and Stan Stasica) was about whether or not they were signed by the CRU deadline of August 26, 1947. The CRU confirmed they were & issued them player cards.

www.riderville.com/2026/02/06/b...

The Grey Cup vs. The Super Bowl - Canadian Football History It’s Super Bowl week down in America. The National Football League, arguably one of the most successful sports leagues in the world, will crown their champion. So, how does the NFL’s Super Bowl stack ...

It's Super Bowl weekend in the NFL. I did this little comparison between the Super Bowl and the Grey Cup last year.

Our Grey Cup stacks up quite nicely. #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/04/t...

Bob Moran and the Desegregation of the Argonauts - Toronto Argonauts BOB MORAN AND THE DESEGREGATION OF THE ARGONAUTS by James Fraser March 30, 1950, was a landmark day in the history of the Toronto Argonauts. On that day, the club’s new president, Bob Moran, who had b...

Ever wonder how and when the Toronto Argonauts desegregated? Of course you have! Fortunately for you, I have contributed something on that very subject to argonauts.ca, helping the club to mark Black History Month.
www.argonauts.ca/2026/02/05/b...

CFL Adds More American Teams - Canadian Football History After the Sacramento Gold Miners joined the Canadian Football League in 1993 and despite some scepticism and opposition, the league sought to grow its footprint in the United States with additional te...

Here's the latest article from Canadian Football History:

"CFL Adds More American Teams"

From Baltimore, Maryland to Las Vegas, Nevada, to Shreveport, Louisiana...looking back at the CFL's U.S.-based teams from the 90s...

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/02/04/c...

1994 Baltimore CFL Team

This week, as we continue to look back at the CFL's expansion into the United States, we'll focus on the Baltimore CFL Colts / Stallions. Have some great stories and photos to share...

Links on CFH website

I've updated the Links page on the CFH website. Check out these great sites for some great CFL and Canadian football content.

canadianfootballhistory.ca/links/

Winnipeg Leads Opposition to CFL American Expansion - Canadian Football History When the Canadian Football League rolled out American expansion in the early 1990s, support for the idea was far from unanimous. Yes, proponents argued that U.S. expansion was the way forward to grow ...

You can read more about Winnipeg's opposition to U.S. expansion on the Canadian Football History website.

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/01/21/w...

Globe and Mail article (1992) calling the Winnipeg Blue Bombers "dinosaurs" for opposing American expansion.

"CFL is riding a runaway train" article in the Winnipeg Sun (1992)

When the CFL expanded into the United States in the early 1990s, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the lone dissenting vote. They were labelled "dinosaurs" by some for being opposed to change.

Winnipeg Leads Opposition to CFL American Expansion - Canadian Football History When the Canadian Football League rolled out American expansion in the early 1990s, support for the idea was far from unanimous. Yes, proponents argued that U.S. expansion was the way forward to grow ...

Here's the latest from Canadian Football History:

"Winnipeg Leads Opposition to CFL American Expansion"

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/01/21/w...

Thanks to @edtaitwfc.bsky.social for sharing his memories of the CFL's U.S. expansion experiment in the 1990s.

#cfl

January 19, 1958!

Original logo of the CFL

Today in Canadian Football History...

The Canadian Football League was formally established in Winnipeg upon the merger of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (aka the Big Four) and the Western Interprovincial Football Union. Sydney Halter was named the CFL’s first commissioner. #cfl

The CFL Expands to the USA - Canadian Football History When I first started following CFL football in the early 1990s, two issues dominated the league: struggling Canadian franchises and U.S. expansion. They kind of went hand in hand, the idea being that ...

The CFL Expands to the USA

And we're back. Happy New Year! Here is the latest article from Canadian Football History...

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2026/01/07/t...

#cfl

The Terry Fox Kickoff: 45 Years Later - Canadian Football History An article about Terry Fox performing the ceremonial kickoff prior to the CFL game between the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1980.

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"The Terry Fox Kickoff: 45 Years Later" #CFL

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/06/25/t...

The Founding of the Canadian Rugby Union - Canadian Football History On December 19, 1891, football representatives from Ontario and Quebec met at the old Windsor Hotel in Montreal to launch (or more accurately relaunch) the Canadian Rugby Union. The new CRU replaced t...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"The Founding of the Canadian Rugby Union" #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/07/30/t...

Calgary’s McMahon Stadium Built in 103 Days - Canadian Football History McMahon Stadium turned 65 this month. It is one of just a few of the “old” CFL stadiums still in use. Most CFL teams are playing in either relatively new or refurbished facilities. But back in 1960, t...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"Calgary’s McMahon Stadium Built in 103 Days" #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/08/26/c...

The Toronto Argonauts Sign the Rocket - Canadian Football History Imagine this. The suits in the NFL are getting ready for their star-studded college draft. Everyone is talking about who’s going to be picked. Who’s going to make it to the big time. Fortune and fame ...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"The Toronto Argonauts Sign the Rocket" #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/08/13/t...

The Maple Leaf Forever: An Evolution of the CFL Logo - Canadian Football History It’s been 60 years since Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed Canada’s national flag featuring the prominent red maple leaf. The maple leaf is arguably the most Canadian symbol of all and has been used to re...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"The Maple Leaf Forever: An Evolution of the CFL Logo" #cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/14/t...

The Grey Cup of Hockey? - Canadian Football History Did you know that Governor General Earl Grey originally intended his Grey Cup trophy to be a national amateur hockey championship? The idea was for amateur hockey teams in various leagues across Canad...

A look back at some of the most popular CFH posts in 2025...

"The Grey Cup of Hockey?"

#cfl

canadianfootballhistory.ca/2025/02/11/t...

CFL History: Remembering the December Grey Cup Games - The Touchdown The modern day CFL calendar now means that the Grey Cup lands in November. But Chris Lawton looks back fondly at December season finales:

#CFL