The Edmonton Elks have kept Canadian defensive back Tyrell Ford as the highest-paid athlete at his position in the CFL.
Ford was already under contract for the 2026 season and signed a one-year extension through the 2027 campaign on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old received a $55,000 signing bonus as part of $230,000 in hard money compensation for 2026. He can also earn an additional $6,000 in available all-star and awards incentives.
The Niagara Falls, Ont. native is scheduled to earn the same money — $236,000 total possible — in 2027, including a $50,000 offseason roster bonus scheduled for February 1. His contract was negotiated by Montreal-based agent Fred Weinrauch.
In 2025, Ford was the highest-paid defensive back in the CFL, earning $230,000. He recorded 56 defensive tackles, two interceptions, one special teams tackle, and one defensive touchdown during 18 regular-season starts at cornerback.
“I didn’t have all the interceptions and stuff, but I got targeted way less,” said Ford. “I thought I tackled better and was a little bit more physical this year, which I liked.”
The six-foot, 200-pound cover man was named All-CFL in 2024 after he registered 51 defensive tackles, seven interceptions — second-most in the three-down league — and four special teams tackles with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He believes Edmonton improved defensively as the season went along in his first year with the Elks.
“We didn’t make it to the playoffs, but I thought as a team we grew a lot, especially in the secondary — a lot of young guys,” Ford said. “A lot of the foundation is already laid out on defence. I feel like we can really elevate our game and trick some of these quarterbacks.”
Edmonton allowed 34 points per game during the first five games to start to the year under rookie defensive coordinator J.C. Sherritt, but gave up 22.1 over the last 13 regular season contests, which would have ranked No. 1 over a complete season in the CFL.
“I’m definitely a person who leads by their play, but I think I can be a little bit more vocal on the field,” Ford said looking forward to 2026.
The Edmonton Elks finished fifth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 7-11 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Cody Fajardo started the team’s final 13 regular-season games and went 6-7, throwing for 3,408 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Tre Ford started the first five, going 1-4, and threw for 984 yards, five touchdowns, an three interceptions.
The Elks ranked ninth in net offence per game, ninth in net defence per game, and fifth with a turnover differential of plus-four. The club’s leading rusher was Justin Rankin with 1,013 yards, leading receiver was Kaion Julien-Grant with 820 yards, and leading tackler was Joel Dublanko with 80 tackles. Edmonton finished seventh in attendance with average crowds of 19,050, which was a 7.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
