Should you’ve ever attended the festivities surrounding the CFL’s championship recreation, you’ve most likely skilled a Gray Cup hangover.
As we speak, nevertheless, we’re discussing a unique sort of Gray Cup hangover — the sort suffered by groups that gained the massive recreation, then noticed a major drop-off the next season.
Although the Gray Cup was first performed in 1909, this listing solely covers the successful groups from the league’s fashionable period from 1958 to the current. The worst regression in league historical past amongst Gray Cup losers belongs to the Ottawa Redblacks, who went 3-15 in 2019 after being defeated by the Calgary Stampeders within the earlier 12 months.
1965 B.C. Lions
Report: 6-9-1 (5 fewer wins year-over-year)
The Lions not solely did not repeat after successful their first-ever Gray Cup in 1964, however they didn’t even make the playoffs. The group began robust at 4-2-1 however misplaced five-straight video games to shut the regular-season, 4 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 solely All-CFL choice.
2025 Toronto Argonauts
Report: 5-13 (5 fewer wins year-over-year)
The Argonauts have been with out franchise quarterback Chad Kelly for your entire 2025 season and it confirmed. Toronto earned solely two All-East Division alternatives and allowed a league-worst 583 factors — 46 greater than some other group. The membership gave its followers some hope with a three-game successful streak within the late summer time, then misplaced five-straight matchups to finish the 12 months. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie has since left the group for a promotion in Ottawa.
2018 Toronto Argonauts
Report: 4-14 (5 fewer wins year-over-year)
Ricky Ray dressed for under two video games in what turned out to be his final CFL season, leaving the then-relatively inexperienced McLeod Bethel-Thompson and James Franklin to deal with duties below centre. The Argonauts allowed a league-worst 560 factors through the common season and obtained zero All-CFL alternatives. This 12 months was so depressing that it price head coach Marc Trestman his job barely 11 months faraway from successful a championship.
1998 Toronto Argonauts
Report: 9-9 (six fewer wins year-over-year)
Doug Flutie left for the NFL after serving to the Argonauts win back-to-back Gray Cups, leaving Kerwin Bell to begin at quarterback. The pocket passer had a powerful 12 months, throwing for a league-leading 4,991 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, although Toronto nonetheless bought bounced within the first spherical of the playoffs. Derrell Mitchell, who set a brand new league report with 160 receptions for two,000 yards, was the squad’s solely All-CFL choice.
1992 Toronto Argonauts
Report: 6-12 (seven fewer wins year-over-year)
There was at all times going to be a hangover after the John Sweet, Wayne Gretzky, Bruce McNall, and Raghib ‘Rocket’ Ismail circus of 1991, however this one was really epic. Adam Rita was fired because the group’s head coach after a 3-8 begin and Dennis Meyer, his alternative, didn’t fare significantly better. This was the primary of a multiyear skid for the Argonauts, who went 3-15 in 1993 and didn’t win a playoff recreation once more till 1996.
1970 Ottawa Tough Riders
Report: 4-10 (seven fewer wins year-over-year)
This was not solely a Gray Cup hangover however a Russ Jackson hangover as arguably one of the best Canadian soccer participant of all-time retired following the 1969 season. Gary Wooden was respectable below centre in 1970 — he threw for 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions, which was respectable for the time — however he wasn’t Jackson. Ottawa’s worst loss got here at dwelling towards the two-win Blue Bombers in Week 10 in a 15-0 shutout.
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