When assessing the most successful Canadian football teams in history, the best place to begin is the Grey Cup. For those who are interested in outright betting on the Canadian Football League, a look back at the previous winners of the Grey Cup is a good place to begin.
The Grey Cup was first awarded in 1909 and was donated by Albert Grey, 4th Earl Grey, the Governor General of Canada, hence the name of the trophy. The first Grey Cup was held on the 4th of December 1909 between the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Parkdale Canoe Club. It was the former who came out on top, winning 26–6 in-front of 3,800 fans.
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues went on to win the trophy on two further occasions but they are not the most successful team in the history of Canadian football. In terms of Grey Cup wins, that accolade falls to Toronto Argonauts, who have picked up the trophy no fewer than 17 times, which is three clear of Edmonton Football Team. However, you must go back to 2017 to find the last time Toronto Varsity Blues won the Grey Cup and since then, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have tasted success.
If you were trying to choose the current best team in the Canadian Football League it would be difficult as several teams have won the Grey Cup in recent years. Since 2013, six different teams have won the competition, with only Calgary Stampeders doing so twice. Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos (Football Team), and Ottawa Redblacks among the other teams to have lifted the Grey Cup from 2013.
When trying to measure the most successful Canadian football teams in history, it is worth looking at the number of Grey Cup appearances. For example, despite sitting third in the all-time list of winners, Winnipeg Blue Bombers have reached the Grey Cup final more times than any other team in the history of Canadian football. They have 25 appearances to their name, with Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Football Team on 23 appearances and Hamilton Tiger-Cats with 21 Grey Cup games under their belt.
It is also worth mentioning some of the defunct and amateur teams, such as Ottawa Rough Riders, who appeared in the Grey Cup 15 times, with 9 victories. In terms of winning percentage, that gives them a 60% success rate in the Grey Cup, with only Toronto Argonauts boasting a superior record.
In terms of individual season teams, one of the best in Canadian Football history must be the 1981 Edmonton Eskimos, who finished with a regular season record of 14-1-1. The 1995 Baltimore Stallions were another great team with a 15-3 regular season record and who can forget the 1948 Calgary Stampeders, who went the whole season without tasting defeat, the only team to do so in CFL history. The Stampeders had another fantastic team more recently and in 2014 they went 15-3 in the regular season.
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