The Toronto Argonauts have officially named Jim Barker as their new director of player personnel. 3DownNation reported late last week that he was joining the team with a role in player personnel.
“Coming back to the Argos feels like coming home,” said Barker in a statement on Monday. “This organization means a great deal to me, and I’m excited for the opportunity to help guide it forward. We have the pieces to accomplish something special and I’m eager to get to work.”
This is Barker’s fourth stint with the Argonauts. The 69-year-old last served as a senior advisor for the team in 2022 to fill the void left by the suspension of vice president of player personnel John Murphy. He stepped down from that role in 2023 to take a spot on the CFL on TSN panel, but did not appear on broadcasts during the 2025 season.
Barker served as the team’s offensive coordinator from 1997 to 1998, head coach in 1999, 2010, and 2011, and general manager from 2011 until 2016. He was named the CFL’s Coach of the Year in 2010. Barker has won three Grey Cups as a member of the organization and five overall in his CFL career.
The native of Pasadena, Calif. has previously spent time as a football operations consultant with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, an assistant coach with the Montreal Alouettes, and as head coach and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders. He has a 29-43 career record as a coach and a 77-84-1 record as a GM.
The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.
The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
