20 Worst Teams in CFL History

[Will]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/04/cele ... l-history/

The only Argonauts team on here was the 1981 team that went 2-14. A fair selection to be sure, however, I would've considered the 1993 and 2009 teams as well for inclusion on this list. It seemed like the brain trust for the 1993 Argonauts looked at what made Tracy Ham a successful QB in Edmonton and decided to do the exact opposite.

[ArgoRavi]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/04/cele ... l-history/

The only Argonauts team on here was the 1981 team that went 2-14. A fair selection to be sure, however, I would've considered the 1993 and 2009 teams as well for inclusion on this list. It seemed like the brain trust for the 1993 Argonauts looked at what made Tracy Ham a successful QB in Edmonton and decided to do the exact opposite.

An interesting list for sure! If you were to just look at half or partial seasons, I would put the 2016 Argos in the hunt. After a 4-2 start, they went just 1-11 the rest of the way and too many of those games weren't even close. The offence was terrible with the likes of Logan Kilgore, Dan Lefevour, and Drew Willy at QB after an early-season injury to Ricky Ray. Cody Fajardo showed some promise in the one game he got into but sustained a season-ending injury in that same game.

[TICATS SUCK !]

The 2009 Argonauts should have been included, to remind people about the legend of Bart Andrus.

[Will]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/04/cele ... l-history/

The only Argonauts team on here was the 1981 team that went 2-14. A fair selection to be sure, however, I would've considered the 1993 and 2009 teams as well for inclusion on this list. It seemed like the brain trust for the 1993 Argonauts looked at what made Tracy Ham a successful QB in Edmonton and decided to do the exact opposite.

An interesting list for sure! If you were to just look at half or partial seasons, I would put the 2016 Argos in the hunt. After a 4-2 start, they went just 1-11 the rest of the way and too many of those games weren't even close. The offence was terrible with the likes of Logan Kilgore, Dan Lefevour, and Drew Willy at QB after an early-season injury to Ricky Ray. Cody Fajardo showed some promise in the one game he got into but sustained a season-ending injury in that same game.

2016 was probably the most discouraging season I've had as a fan, for the following reasons:

1. It became apparent quickly that the BMO Field wouldn't cure attendance woes.
2. The team was projected to contend (I think).
3. Ray got hurt and his replacements weren't up to the task.
4. The Grey Cup festival was bungled and we haven't had a Grey Cup at BMO since (possibly as a consequence of that).

[Will]

The 2009 Argonauts should have been included, to remind people about the legend of Bart Andrus.

I don't think Andrus was a terrible person (neither was Willie Wood or Dennis Meyer), he just wasn't the right choice as coach of the Argonauts.

John Huard meanwhile...

[ArgoRavi]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/04/cele ... l-history/

The only Argonauts team on here was the 1981 team that went 2-14. A fair selection to be sure, however, I would've considered the 1993 and 2009 teams as well for inclusion on this list. It seemed like the brain trust for the 1993 Argonauts looked at what made Tracy Ham a successful QB in Edmonton and decided to do the exact opposite.

An interesting list for sure! If you were to just look at half or partial seasons, I would put the 2016 Argos in the hunt. After a 4-2 start, they went just 1-11 the rest of the way and too many of those games weren't even close. The offence was terrible with the likes of Logan Kilgore, Dan Lefevour, and Drew Willy at QB after an early-season injury to Ricky Ray. Cody Fajardo showed some promise in the one game he got into but sustained a season-ending injury in that same game.

2016 was probably the most discouraging season I've had as a fan, for the following reasons:

1. It became apparent quickly that the BMO Field wouldn't cure attendance woes.
2. The team was projected to contend (I think).
3. Ray got hurt and his replacements weren't up to the task.
4. The Grey Cup festival was bungled and we haven't had a Grey Cup at BMO since (possibly as a consequence of that).

You nailed it on all counts, Will. 2016 was extremely disappointing and a real low point for the franchise.

[IssuesMcgee]

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/04/cele ... l-history/

The only Argonauts team on here was the 1981 team that went 2-14. A fair selection to be sure, however, I would've considered the 1993 and 2009 teams as well for inclusion on this list. It seemed like the brain trust for the 1993 Argonauts looked at what made Tracy Ham a successful QB in Edmonton and decided to do the exact opposite.

An interesting list for sure! If you were to just look at half or partial seasons, I would put the 2016 Argos in the hunt. After a 4-2 start, they went just 1-11 the rest of the way and too many of those games weren't even close. The offence was terrible with the likes of Logan Kilgore, Dan Lefevour, and Drew Willy at QB after an early-season injury to Ricky Ray. Cody Fajardo showed some promise in the one game he got into but sustained a season-ending injury in that same game.

2016 was probably the most discouraging season I've had as a fan, for the following reasons:

1. It became apparent quickly that the BMO Field wouldn't cure attendance woes.
2. The team was projected to contend (I think).
3. Ray got hurt and his replacements weren't up to the task.
4. The Grey Cup festival was bungled and we haven't had a Grey Cup at BMO since (possibly as a consequence of that).

Wow I forgot how terrible that year was. Must have blocked it out of my mind due to the psychological trauma.

[Scooter McCray]

The 2009 Argonauts should have been included, to remind people about the legend of Bart Andrus.

I don't think Andrus was a terrible person (neither was Willie Wood or Dennis Meyer), he just wasn't the right choice as coach of the Argonauts.

John Huard meanwhile...

Andrus was a Quality Control Coach for the St. Louis Rams. Whoever interviewed him should have also been fired. Who was the GM back then?
At the meet the fans event that winter held at the Colossus Movie Theatre in Vaughan when asked what most excited him about the CFL rules and field that most excited him his response was the ability to kick anytime (quick kicks). I immediately said to my son and to Don Landry who MC'd that we were in for a long year.

[ArgoRavi]

The 2009 Argonauts should have been included, to remind people about the legend of Bart Andrus.

I don't think Andrus was a terrible person (neither was Willie Wood or Dennis Meyer), he just wasn't the right choice as coach of the Argonauts.

John Huard meanwhile...

Andrus was a Quality Control Coach for the St. Louis Rams. Whoever interviewed him should have also been fired. Who was the GM back then?
At the meet the fans event that winter held at the Colossus Movie Theatre in Vaughan when asked what most excited him about the CFL rules and field that most excited him his response was the ability to kick anytime (quick kicks). I immediately said to my son and to Don Landry who MC'd that we were in for a long year.

Andrus had been with the Tennessee Titans. Was it Adam Rita who was the GM at that time? Honestly, I doubt Rita or whomever was the GM had much to do with that decision - I believe it was part-owner David Cynamon who made the hire, as he wanted to find the next Marc Trestman. Andrus, by the way, said that same thing in all of the media interviews he did. He had a weak understanding of the Canadian game and I don't think it was much better by the end of 2009. Weirdly enough, he was QBs coach at the University of Ottawa around 2020 or 2021, before he got work as a head coach in one of the spring leagues.

[Will]

I don't think Andrus was a terrible person (neither was Willie Wood or Dennis Meyer), he just wasn't the right choice as coach of the Argonauts.

John Huard meanwhile...

Andrus was a Quality Control Coach for the St. Louis Rams. Whoever interviewed him should have also been fired. Who was the GM back then?
At the meet the fans event that winter held at the Colossus Movie Theatre in Vaughan when asked what most excited him about the CFL rules and field that most excited him his response was the ability to kick anytime (quick kicks). I immediately said to my son and to Don Landry who MC'd that we were in for a long year.

Andrus had been with the Tennessee Titans. Was it Adam Rita who was the GM at that time? Honestly, I doubt Rita or whomever was the GM had much to do with that decision - I believe it was part-owner David Cynamon who made the hire, as he wanted to find the next Marc Trestman. Andrus, by the way, said that same thing in all of the media interviews he did. He had a weak understanding of the Canadian game and I don't think it was much better by the end of 2009. Weirdly enough, he was QBs coach at the University of Ottawa around 2020 or 2021, before he got work as a head coach in one of the spring leagues.

I don't think he was a bad person. Just cast in a role that he was ill-equipped to perform.