No team can be successful without a solid secondary, which is why we went looking for the CFL’s best defensive backs of the decade.
Defensive backs move around — many of the players on this list spent their careers at a number of different positions in the secondary. We tried to place each candidate below at the position where they spent the majority (if not the entirety) of their careers.
The player who finished atop the reader ballot has his name marked with an asterisk (*).
Cornerback
Screengrab courtesy Ticats.ca
1) Delvin Breaux*
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013-2014, 2018-2019)
49 games, 110 tackles, six forced fumbles, two interceptions, one sack
CFL all-star (2014, 2018)
East Division all-star (2014, 2018)
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
2) Jovon Johnson
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2010-2013)
Ottawa Redblacks (2014-2015)
Montreal Alouettes (2016)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2017-2018)
151 games, 431 tackles, 26 interceptions, eight sacks, eight forced fumbles
CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player (2011)
CFL all-star (2011)
East Division all-star (2010-2012, 2015)
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
3) Dante Marsh
B.C. Lions (2010-2014)
83 games, 275 tackles, 16 interceptions, three forced fumbles, one sack
Grey Cup champion (2011)
West Division all-star (2011, 2013)
Honourable mentions
1) Tommie Campbell
2) Chris Randle
3) Dwight Anderson
4) Joe Burnett
5) Billy Parker
6) Chris Thompson
7) Geoff Tisdale
Halfback
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
1) Brandon Smith
Calgary Stampeders (2010-2019)
149 games, 578 tackles, 17 interceptions, seven forced fumbles, six sacks
Grey Cup champion (2014, 2018)
CFL all-star (2014)
West Division all-star (2014)
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
2) Ryan Phillips
B.C. Lions (2010-2016)
Montreal Alouettes (2017)
124 games, 267 tackles, 25 interceptions, four sacks, three forced fumbles
Grey Cup champion (2011)
CFL all-star (2010, 2012, 2013)
West Division all-star (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
3) Aaron Grymes
Edmonton Eskimos (2013-2015, 2017-2018)
B.C. Lions (2019-present)
82 games, 235 tackles, 12 interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack
Grey Cup champion (2015)
CFL all-star (2015)
West Division all-star (2015)
Honourable mentions
1) Jamar Wall
2) Ed Gainey*
3) T.J. Lee
4) Jonathan Hefney
5) Emanuel Davis
6) Jerald Brown
7) T.J. Heath
Safety
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
1) Antoine Pruneau
Ottawa Redblacks (2014-present)
93 games, 321 tackles, nine interceptions, four sacks, four forced fumbles
Grey Cup champion (2016)
East Division all-star (2017)
Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com
2) Tyron Brackenridge*
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2011-2015)
75 games, 250 tackles, 10 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, four sacks
Grey Cup champion (2013)
CFL all-star (2013, 2014)
West Division all-star (2013, 2014)
Honourable mentions
1) Marc-Olivier Brouillette
2) Craig Butler
3) Taylor Loffler
4) Mike Edem
5) Jermaine Gabriel
Depth chart
With two position groups down, here’s how our depth chart is shaping up. Yes, we’re aware that two players are wearing number 6. For the purposes of this team, we’ll allow it.
