Canadian football has a storied history stretching back over 150 years, during which the game has undergone significant transformations to become the modern Canadian Football League (CFL) we recognize today. Emerging from its rugby football origins, the sport evolved through pivotal moments and innovations, ultimately solidifying its place in Canadian culture.
19th Century Beginnings
The roots of Canadian football trace back to 1861, when the University of Toronto hosted what is believed to be the first football game in Canada. Shortly thereafter, a football club was established at the university, though the gameplay closely mirrored rugby rather than today’s gridiron style. The sport’s popularity grew, leading to the formation of various rugby football teams across Canada in the 1860s. By 1884, the Canadian Rugby Football Union (later renamed the Canadian Rugby Union in 1891) became the governing body, overseeing regional and provincial teams. The game’s turning point came in 1909 when Governor General Earl Grey donated the now-iconic Grey Cup to be awarded to the champions of Canada’s senior amateur football league.
The Burnside Rules: A Game-Changer
In 1903, the introduction of the Burnside rules marked a seismic shift for the sport, moving it away from rugby and closer to gridiron football. Named after the University of Toronto’s football captain, these rules reduced team sizes from 15 to 12 players and limited the number of players on the line of scrimmage to six. While inspired by Walter Camp’s American football rules, the Burnside rules retained distinct differences, leading to a uniquely Canadian version of the game. These changes laid the foundation for the sport’s future growth and distinct identity.
Establishing Leagues and Professionalization
The early 20th century saw Canadian football become more organized with the creation of the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in 1907, comprising senior teams from Ontario and Quebec. It wasn’t until 1936 that their western counterparts formed the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU), bringing together teams from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Over the decades, both unions transitioned from amateur to professional leagues, a process accelerated by the end of World War II. By the mid-20th century, Canadian football had fully embraced its professional status.
The Birth of the CFL
The modern CFL emerged in 1956 when the WIFU and IRFU came together under the Canadian Football Council. Two years later, this organization rebranded as the Canadian Football League, officially taking over the Grey Cup. From 1958 to 1981, the league consisted of nine Canadian franchises, including iconic teams like the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks), and Saskatchewan Roughriders. The CFL expanded its horizons in the 1990s, introducing U.S.-based teams such as the Sacramento Gold Miners and Baltimore Stallions. In a historic milestone, the Stallions became the first non-Canadian team to win the Grey Cup in 1995.
From its humble beginnings on university grounds to its establishment as a professional league, Canadian football’s evolution reflects a rich heritage and enduring legacy in the nation’s sporting history. The CFL continues to celebrate this history while carving out its path in the modern sports world.
Excellent article. It’s worth mentioning in the early 1900s how the Burnside rules weren’t readily adopted initially by all rugby/football leagues across Canada resulting in a confusing set of different rules for different leagues. Some maintained basic rugby rules while others partially adopted Burnside rules while others fully adopted these new rules. To accommodate the different rules, playoff games between different leagues sometimes had to play one half with a different set of rules than the other half.