- Unveiling the CFL’s best quarterbacks of all time.
- Montreal Alouettes' legend Anthony Calvillo tops the list.
- List features the only player inducted into both Pro Football and Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
The Canadian Football League has been graced by some of the most talented quarterbacks in football history. These athletes have each left indelible marks on the league’s rich history and changed the CFL forever. Five players stand out as the quarterbacks who have redefined greatness in the CFL.
In this article, I look at the five best CFL quarterbacks of all time.
Best CFL Quarterbacks of All Time
| Rank | Name | Teams Played For | Years in CFL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Damon Allen | Edmonton Eskimos, Ottawa Rough Riders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Memphis Mad Dogs, BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts | 23 |
| 4 | Russ Jackson | Ottawa Rough Riders | 12 |
| 3 | Doug Flutie | Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts | 8 |
| 2 | Warren Moon | Edmonton Eskimos | 6 |
| 1 | Anthony Calvillo | Las Vegas Posse, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes | 20 |
5. Damon Allen
When he retired after an extraordinary 23-year CFL career, Damon Allen was pro football’s all-time passing leader with 72,381 yards. He also held CFL records for most pass attempts, completions and touchdown passes, and the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback.
Additionally, Allen led four different teams to Grey Cup victories. His incredible longevity and success across multiple franchises cement his legacy as one of the CFL’s all-time greats.
4. Russ Jackson
A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Russ Jackson is undoubtedly the best Canadian-born quarterback to play in the CFL. A first-round pick of the Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1958 CFL Draft, Jackson spent all 12 seasons of his career with the team. Jackson’s prowess as a dual-threat quarterback was far ahead of his time, and he utilized his legs to dominate the defences of the 1960s.
Jackson racked up accolades and finished his playing career with three Grey Cup championships and three Most Outstanding Player awards. He finished his career with 239 total touchdowns.
3. Doug Flutie
Deemed too small to play in the NFL after winning the 1984 Heisman trophy, Doug Flutie suited up with the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts for eight unbelievable CFL seasons. In that time, he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player six times and came away with three Grey Cup victories.
Doug Flutie: Officially an All-Time Argo.#Argos #CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/x7meiSKLIU
— Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos) July 24, 2017
Flutie revolutionized the quarterback position with extraordinary playmaking ability and uncanny field vision.
2. Warren Moon
Warren Moon was a trailblazer in the CFL before taking his talents down south. Moon won a record five consecutive Grey Cup titles with the Edmonton Eskimos from 1978 to 1982. He won two Grey Cup MVP awards, became the first quarterback in pro football history to record 5,000 passing yards in a season in 1982, and defied the longest of football odds by becoming the only player inducted into both the Pro Football and Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Moon’s uncanny arm strength and accuracy were unmatched in this time period, as he took home the 1983 CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award as a result.
1. Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo racked up 79,816 passing yards and 455 touchdown passes. Both of which are CFL records. He also owns the records for most career completions (5892), pass attempts (9437) and career passing yards in Grey Cup Games (2470).
Re-Watching 2000s CFL games makes you realize just how good Anthony Calvillo was pic.twitter.com/QI52VMgtxZ
— Connor O'Neil (@ConnorRONeil) May 3, 2020
Calvillo won three Grey Cup championships, three Most Outstanding Player awards, and was named the 2002 Grey Cup MVP.