The six worst Grey Cup hangovers in CFL history

If you’ve ever attended the festivities surrounding the CFL’s championship game, you’ve probably experienced a Grey Cup hangover.

Today, however, we’re discussing a different kind of Grey Cup hangover — the type suffered by teams that won the big game, then saw a significant drop-off the following season.

Though the Grey Cup was first played in 1909, this list only covers the winning teams from the league’s modern era from 1958 to the present. The worst regression in league history among Grey Cup losers belongs to the Ottawa Redblacks, who went 3-15 in 2019 after being defeated by the Calgary Stampeders in the previous year.

1965 B.C. Lions
Record: 6-9-1 (five fewer wins year-over-year)

The Lions not only failed to repeat after winning their first-ever Grey Cup in 1964, but they didn’t even make the playoffs. The team started strong at 4-2-1 but lost five-straight games to close the regular-season, four of which occurred by double-digits. Joe Kapp threw a career-worst 19 interceptions, Willie Fleming tied a career-low with eight touchdowns, and defensive lineman Dick Fouts was B.C.’s only All-CFL selection.

2025 Toronto Argonauts
Record: 5-13 (five fewer wins year-over-year)

The Argonauts were without franchise quarterback Chad Kelly for the entire 2025 season and it showed. Toronto earned only two All-East Division selections and allowed a league-worst 583 points — 46 more than any other team. The club gave its fans some hope with a three-game winning streak in the late summer, then lost five-straight matchups to end the year. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has since left the team for a promotion in Ottawa.

Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

2018 Toronto Argonauts
Record: 4-14 (five fewer wins year-over-year)

Ricky Ray dressed for only two games in what turned out to be his last CFL season, leaving the then-relatively inexperienced McLeod Bethel-Thompson and James Franklin to handle duties under centre. The Argonauts allowed a league-worst 560 points during the regular season and received zero All-CFL selections. This year was so miserable that it cost head coach Marc Trestman his job barely 11 months removed from winning a championship.

1998 Toronto Argonauts
Record: 9-9 (six fewer wins year-over-year)

Doug Flutie left for the NFL after helping the Argonauts win back-to-back Grey Cups, leaving Kerwin Bell to start at quarterback. The pocket passer had a strong year, throwing for a league-leading 4,991 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, though Toronto still got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Derrell Mitchell, who set a new league record with 160 receptions for 2,000 yards, was the squad’s only All-CFL selection.

1992 Toronto Argonauts
Record: 6-12 (seven fewer wins year-over-year)

There was always going to be a hangover after the John Candy, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, and Raghib ‘Rocket’ Ismail circus of 1991, but this one was truly epic. Adam Rita was fired as the team’s head coach after a 3-8 start and Dennis Meyer, his replacement, didn’t fare much better. This was the first of a multiyear skid for the Argonauts, who went 3-15 in 1993 and didn’t win a playoff game again until 1996.

Photo: O-Pee-Chee/EBay

1970 Ottawa Rough Riders
Record: 4-10 (seven fewer wins year-over-year)

This was not only a Grey Cup hangover but a Russ Jackson hangover as arguably the best Canadian football player of all-time retired following the 1969 season. Gary Wood was decent under centre in 1970 — he threw for 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, which was respectable for the time — but he wasn’t Jackson. Ottawa’s worst loss came at home against the two-win Blue Bombers in Week 10 in a 15-0 shutout.