After overwhelming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41–24, the Toronto Argonauts are on the heels of their 19th Grey Cup title, the most championship wins in CFL history, cementing their status as the most-decorated franchise in Canadian football. However, this success was not always a given. 

In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Boatmen were at the bottom of the league’s standings, finishing two consecutive seasons with a 4–14 record. It was the newfound leadership of General Manager Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons and the addition of Head Coach Ryan Dinwiddie in 2019 that catapulted the team back to Canadian football relevance.

This offseason, the front office made key changes to the coaching staff and roster, losing essential pieces that were crucial to the team’s success last season. The exodus of players and coaches will determine the fate of this team in their quest for back-to-back championships.

An ever-changing roster

Being back-to-back champions is a familiar scene for the Argos, as they have won back-to-back in 1937 and 1938; in 1945, 1946, and 1947; and again in 1996 and 1997. 

Since 2019, the team has undergone major overhauls, reconstructing itself each year. Unsurprisingly, no player remains from the abysmal 2019 season, and only 7 from the 2022 championship season are still on the roster. Off the bench, assistant coaches from the 2022 season found opportunities elsewhere, as half of them have left the Argonauts.

Last season may have brought more changes than this offseason, yet the Boatmen still lost pivotal pieces to their championship run this year. The biggest loss was Dejon Allen, who had earned All-CFL honours as an offensive tackle. 

The Edmonton Elks also brought back breakout defensive lineman Jake Cerensa. Additionally, the cross-province rival, Hamilton, secured the most outstanding defensive player in 2024, safety DeShaun Amos, continuing their slate of poaching players from the Argonauts. The NFL also made call-ups for the Boatmen as they inked both standout receiver Makai Polk and defensive tackle Ralph Holley.

Will this budding dynasty finally flourish?

Despite losing some of its talents in the offseason, the Argos managed to keep the majority of the team’s core. As a team that placed first in points per game and second in rushing yards last season, the Boatmen will undoubtedly benefit from re-signing offensive lineman Ryan Hunter and wide receiver Damonte Coxie. 

The Boatmen also re-signed return man Janarion Grant, a dynamic contributor on special teams, who led this squad to first place on punt return average yards and fourth place on kickoff return touchdowns. To top it off, Toronto brought back defensive back Wynton McManis and the man whose performance took the Grey Cup by storm a year ago, Nick Arbuckle.

To replenish their losses in the offseason, the Argos turned to the draft and prioritized free-agent signings. They landed key replacements such as pass rusher Bryan Cox Jr.. They also took defensive reinforcements in the draft through lineman Jeremiah Ojo. 

Through all the offseason manoeuvres, Toronto remained a favourite to win it all this season. Yet, at about the halfway point, they stand tied at third in the East Division and last in the league with a 3–8 record. One could argue that this is not the same team that won the title a season ago, given the significant roster turnover. The team’s ability to pull itself together for the remainder of the season will rest on Clemons’ leadership, Dinwiddie’s tactical expertise, and a resilient roster that surmounted the odds to clinch the Grey Cup a year prior.