International partnerships

In October 2018, the CFL began work on an initiative known as "CFL 2.0" to grow its revenues and broaden its international reach outside of Canada and the United States. This included establishing partnerships with other gridiron football leagues (including using them as a potential farm system for Canadian player development post-university), international combines, scouting international prospects to join Canadian university football programs, expansion of the international media presence of the league, as well as increased investments in amateur football programs in Canada.^[1][2]

On November 23, 2018, the CFL and the Professional American Football League of Mexico (LFA) signed a non-binding letter of intent on various partnerships, which included projects such as the possibility of hosting a regular season game in Mexico.^[3] On January 9, 2019, it was announced that the CFL and its franchises had committed to investing $4 million in supporting amateur football programs in Canada in 2019.^[4]

On January 31 the CFL and German Football League (GFL) signed an agreement to form a long-term strategic partnership.^[5] The partnership included the participation of German athletes at the 2019 CFL Combine. In February 2019, the CFL reached similar agreements with the Ligue Élite de Football Américain (France),^[6] the Austrian American Football Federation,^[7] the Federazione Italiana di American Football (Italy),^[8] and with football officials in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.^[9] In July, the league also partnered with the British American Football Association.^[10]

New collective bargaining agreement

The five-year agreement that was ratified between the CFL and CFL Players' Association in 2013 was set to expire just prior to the start of this season, on the first day of scheduled training camp, May 19.^[11][12] On May 15 the CFL and CFL Players' Association announced they had reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified by players and approved by the league's Board of Governors a week later on May 22; four days before the first preseason game.^[13][14] The length of the agreement aligns with Bell Media's media rights to the league.^[15][16]

The main components of the CBA included:^[17][18][19]

Football operations cap

On June 5, 2018, it was reported that the CFL had approved a limit on football operations staff salaries and number of coaches and operations staff employed by each team.^[20] In this report, the number of coaches on each team would not exceed 11 and the number of other football operations staff may not exceed 17. The total compensation of those 28 staff members would be capped at $2,738,000.^[20] As of the 2018 CFL season, four teams had more than 11 coaches employed and would be directly impacted by these changes.^[21] Consequently, there was talk of a potential coaches union being formed to combat the unilateral decision.^[21]

On December 6, 2018, the league formally announced the cap regulations, with the total compensation of the combined 11 coaches and 14 other football operations staff being set at $2,588,000 for 2019 and 2020.^[22] Similar to the player salary cap, violations in excess of $100,000 would result in monetary fines and loss of draft picks. However, as teams adjust to the new rules for 2019, they may self-report violations to avoid personal fines and loss of draft picks.^[22]

Montreal Alouettes ownership

On May 31 Robert Wetenhall surrendered his ownership of the Montreal Alouettes back to the league, after having pursued a sale of the franchise for several months. The CFL intended to continue this process, but would operate the team on its behalf.^[23]

New outfitter

On September 12, 2018, it was announced that New Era would be the official outfitter of all CFL teams beginning in the 2019 season.^[24] This came as a result of the previous supplier, Adidas, not renewing their contract following the 2018 expiry of their previous deal.^[25] New Era Cap had been a licensee of the CFL for headwear and apparel since January 2011, and it was the first time that the company provided football uniforms and sideline apparel.^[24][26]

While most teams maintained relatively similar uniforms, the Montreal Alouettes unveiled a revamped identity with new logos and uniforms on February 1,^[27][28] while the B.C. Lions returned to using their normal logo on their helmets rather than a stylized version.^[29][30]

International drafts

The CFL and LFA hosted a combine in Mexico City on January 13 attended by 51 top Mexican players.^[31] The following day, 27 players were selected in a CFL–LFA Draft; the Edmonton Eskimos held the first overall pick, and selected Diego Viamontes of Mayas CDMX.^[32]

On April 11, the CFL held its first European draft in which nine players were drafted, one to each CFL team: four of the players were from France, three from Germany, and one each from Italy and Finland.^[33]

Free agency

The free agency period began on February 12 at noon EST.^[34] All players eligible for free agency are unrestricted free agents, as is customary in the league. Notable signings in the period included:

Trade deadline

The in-season trade deadline was on October 9 at 3:59 pm EDT.^[12]

Johnny Manziel

On February 27, Johnny Manziel, a quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes in 2018, was permanently banned from playing on any CFL team as a result of what the Alouettes called an unspecified "(contravention of) the agreement which made him eligible to play." Manziel has denied any wrongdoing but accepted the banishment, stating he would consider playing options in the United States; he then signed on with the Alliance of American Football who were partly through their inaugural season.^[35]

Schedule

The regular season schedule was announced on December 20, 2018, and was played over 21 weeks from June 13 to November 12, 2019. There was an increase in Saturday primetime games with 7:00 p.m. ET kickoffs, appearing in all but one week of the season. Only three games were played on Sundays, and three were played on Mondays.^[47]

Highlights of the schedule included:

• The season opener featured the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with Hamilton winning 27–13. A rematch of the 106th Grey Cup also occurred in week 1, with the Calgary Stampeders hosting the Ottawa Redblacks.
• Canada Day game: The Roughriders hosted the Toronto Argonauts on July 1, winning 32–7.
• Touchdown Atlantic: On August 25, the CFL played a regular season game in the Maritimes for the first time since 2013,^[48] featuring the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts.^[49] The game was presented by Schooners Sports and Entertainment (SSE), the group that is attempting to be awarded an expansion franchise as the Atlantic Schooners.^[48] The location of the game was narrowed down three choices: Halifax, Moncton, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia.^[50] Although SSE was expected to announce the location of the game before the end of January 2019, the announcement was not made until the end of March, at which time Croix-Bleue Medavie Stadium (Université de Moncton) in Moncton was selected.^[51][52]
• Labour Day Classic: Three traditional rivalry games were played over Labour Day weekend, including the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosting the Toronto Argonauts, and the Calgary Stampeders hosting the Edmonton Eskimos.

For the first time in league history, no games were played on Thanksgiving.

In the late evening of August 9 at 9:06 pm EDT, a weather delay was declared at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal due to an approaching thunderstorm with intense lightning; the Saskatchewan Roughriders were leading the Alouettes 17–10 with 2:41 left in the 3rd quarter. Because the game had not restarted by 10:06 pm EDT and over 7:30 had been played in the 3rd at that point, the 17–10 score was declared final.^[53][54]

Standings

Teams in bold are in playoff positions.

Results

Attendance

Playoff bracket

CFL Top Performers of the Week

Source^[56]

CFL Top Performers of the Month

Source^[56]

Special teams

• K – Sergio Castillo, BC Lions
• P – Richie Leone, Ottawa Redblacks
• ST – Frankie Williams, Hamilton Tiger–Cats

Source^[57]

Special teams

• K – Sergio Castillo, BC Lions
• P – Jon Ryan, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• ST – Mike Miller, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Source^[58]

Special teams

• K – Lirim Hajrullahu, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• P – Richie Leone, Ottawa Redblacks
• ST – Frankie Williams, Hamilton Tiger–Cats