Chris Streveler Signs for Miami Dolphins: How Many Other CFL Players Have Switched to the NFL?

On February 22 of this year, the Miami Dolphins announced that they were taking quarterback Chris Streveler, an ex-CFL player who journeyed south to the NFL from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020.

In looking at his past experience with the CFL, Miami has gained a good player, with him having played two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was even part of the Blue Bomber’s 2019 championship team for the Grey Cup. With seven impressive career games with Arizona over two seasons, football fans will surely keep an eye on the player in the games to come. Looking at their odds of Super Bowl success, the Dolphins are destined for greatness this year, but Streveler will be hoping to hold a higher spot in the pecking order, and play in more matches.

But Streveler is simply the latest in a long line of players to be persuaded away from the CFL and into the Yanks’ stadiums. Whether it’s for the fun of it or to get to the root of why teammates are being stolen away, we’re looking at NFL players who had their start in the CFL.

 

Warren Moon

Warren Moon has a special bragging right that not many other players can say they have: he has been considered one of the best football players in two different leagues. The other side of that coin, unfortunately, is that he hasn’t gone home with a Super Bowl, however he has won five, that’s FIVE, Grey Cups with the Edmonton Eskimos. He was also a two-time Grey Cup MVP as well as being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Chad Johnson

“Ocho Cinco” to his fans, Chad Johnson got his start with the CFL having played in only five games with the Montreal Alouettes. It’s not a substantial contribution, but it’s a start.

His time in the NFL has had him scattered all over the country, moving from the Cincinnati Bengals to the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins, and has played in Super Bowls and gained the fan attribution of one of the most entertaining players in the NFL.

Jeff Garcia

This star quarterback didn’t get there easily. He started with the Calgary Stampeders for four seasons, racking up four West Division All-Star awards, a Grey Cup and was named MVP as he went.

After his switch to the NFL, where he played for the San Fransisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, Omaha Nighthawks, and the Houston Texans, he gained four Pro Bowls, a record for the longest touchdown pass at 99 yards, and a hell of a reputation for being one of the most coveted stars of the game.

Mike Vanderjagt

Considered the most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL, Vanderjagt not only started, but ended his career with the CFL. His career started with the 1993 Saskatchewan Roughriders, before flip-flopping between NFL and CFL, playing for the Tampa Bay Storm, Minnesota Fighting Pike, Toronto Argonauts, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys, before returning to the Toronto Argonauts for his final team.

Throughout his time on the field, he racked up a Pro Bowl, an award for NFL scoring leader, and two Grey Cup wins amongst his many accolades.

Cameron Wake

Defensive player Cameron Wake was first introduced to the NFL by his CFL Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year wins in his first season but were really interested when he beat his previous record of 16 sacks by 23 in his second season. From there, he accumulated some time with the New York Giants, the BC Lions, 10 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, and some time with the Tennessee Titans, where he took home five Pro Bowls.