CFL operations cap to increase to pre-pandemic levels in 2023: report

Photo: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

The CFL’s operations cap is increasing for the 2023 season, according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Being told the @CFL football ops cap is increasing to 2.5 million (from 2.3). The cap had been reduced during covid, this brings it back. Spots are still the same, up to 11 coaches and 25 total in football ops.

The league’s operations cap was introduced for the 2019 season as a way to limit and equalize spending across the league. CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said at the time that the cap would “contribute to the success of our league as we all work together to build a bigger, better, stronger CFL.”

The cap was originally set at $2,588,000 but was reduced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been the subject of criticism as some individuals believe it inhibits teams in their attempts to hire and develop quality coaches and personnel people.

Those subject to the cap include coaches, general managers, scouts, equipment staff, and video personnel. Team doctors and athletic therapists are not included, which the league indicated was done to ensure player health and safety remained unaffected by potential budget cuts.

Teams that violate the cap are subject to a dollar-for-dollar fine for the first $100,000 they go over. For violations over $100,000, teams will forfeit a draft pick(s) while being assessed a fine between $25,000 to $250,000.