Anything is possible when it comes to Edmonton Elks’ quarterback Tre Ford and his future in the Canadian Football League, including playing for the Green and Gold in 2026.
“We’re going to work through that and do whatever is best for the situation. We want to do right by Tre having a chance to discuss that and see where it goes. If there’s an opportunity to place him where he wants to go, maybe there’s an opportunity that things can be worked out here. All options are open at this point,” Edmonton Elks’ general manager Ed Hervey told 3DownNation.
“We haven’t really got to a point to where we’ve made a decision on that because we all like Tre. Tre is a good individual, he’s a good person, and he didn’t do anything wrong. It’ll be unfair to speculate as to what we want to do with him because we haven’t had a chance to talk. We’ve given him some time during the holidays to absorb everything. I’d like to have that conversation with him before determining what we’re going to do beyond that.”
The 52-year-old Hervey said he has not received calls from other CFL teams asking about a potential trade for Ford, but the team also hasn’t called around shopping him. The 27-year-old dual-threat pivot could be the most sought-after backup QB in the three-down league if he was made available via trade or became a free agent.
“I think the best thing would be to talk with him first. I think he’s owed that level of respect to at least talk about it and see what his thoughts are on his career,” Hervey said.
“I know the conversation I had with him before he left was to talk in general about the situation, the changes, and things to improve on, but we never really got into 2026. I’d like to have a chance to talk with him and his representative about that to make certain that whatever decision is made, he’s involved.”
Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam believes Ford’s teammates would welcome him back into the locker room if that’s how the decision-making plays out. Kilam benched the Canadian quarterback following a 1-4 start as Cody Fajardo took over at the game’s most important position. The Niagara Falls, Ont. native did not take another snap after Week 6.
“He’s a good human being, so the locker room responds to good people and wants good people around,” Kilam said.
Fajardo produced a 6-7 win-loss record to end the campaign, impressing Kilam and Hervey enough to extend his contract for the 2026 season. That’s left Edmonton’s football operations department with a verdict to reach on Ford, who has a $110,000 active roster bonus due on February 1, which provides a deadline for all parties involved.
After being selected in the first round, eighth overall during the 2022 CFL Draft, Ford has completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,651 yards with 29 touchdowns versus 19 interceptions in his 60 CFL games. He’s rushed 124 times for 1,129 yards, 9.1 per carry, and scored four majors on the ground. The six-foot, 190-pound QB has a 10-13 win-loss record in 23 career CFL starts.
