Courtesy: Thomas Skrlj/CFL.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston expects to make an announcement soon regarding a potential salary cap increase for 2026.
“I’m feeling very good about where we’re heading this year (revenue-wise) based on our 2025 numbers,” said Johnston from the CFL’s offseason winter meetings in Calgary. “We still have conversations we need to have with the (CFL) Players Association (before an announcement can be made).”
Originally set at $5.65 million, the CFL’s salary cap climbed to $6.06 million for 2025, a 7.3 percent increase. The growth occurred due to the revenue-sharing model outlined in the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Though the increase was considered a positive sign for all league stakeholders, it was also announced at a disastrous time. Decision-makers didn’t about the new salary cap until February 5, three days after the free-agent communication window opened. Many of the league’s marquee players had already agreed to new contracts without them or their respective teams being aware of the new money.
League sources have suggested to 3DownNation that the extra cap space afforded by the increase was used on contract extensions during or after the season, though some of it may not have been spent at all.
The CFLPA eventually filed a grievance, claiming that teams were stashing healthy players on injured reserve with “load management” designations to meet minimum spending requirements. As a result, each team was given an extra $50,000 of cap space, which the union hoped would be spent active players.
Johnston acknowledged that the timing of last year’s announcement was problematic and appears committed to ensuring the league doesn’t make the same mistake twice.
“I was very pleased with the fact that we could recognize revenue growth to that extent last year,” he said. “(The timing of the announcement) simply was unacceptable last year. It cannot happen and it won’t happen this year, regardless of which way it goes.”