The 2024 season has not gone as expected for the Toronto Argonauts.
There are a multitude of reasons why the defending Grey Cup champs have a 5-10 record, all of which will be discussed at season’s end. But for all the disappointments, there have been some positives, one of which has been the stellar play of kicker Lirim Hajrullahu.
From walk-off field goals to a bevy of bombs, the Western University product has lived up to a high standard he established a year ago. He tied Lance Chomyc’s Argo all-time record with 55 three pointers in 2024, while setting a club record with eight field goals in a game. His 202 points was the third-best single season ever, trailing Chomyc’s ’91 and ’88 campaigns.
He also had an impressive post-season, setting the Argo record for the longest playoff field goal, a 53-yarder in the Eastern Semi-Final against Ottawa, and breaking the team record by scoring 28 playoff points. He also went 4/4 in field goal attempts in the Grey Cup win over Winnipeg.
Earlier this season he moved into fourth place in all-time Argo scoring, passing Dick Shatto and Mike Vanderjagt, now just trailing legendary Argo kickers Lance Chomyc, Noel Prefontaine, and Zenon Andrusyshyn.
With three games remaining, Hajrullahu will flirt with the record book again. He’s already connected on 46 field goals, eighth-best in team history. There’s little doubt he’ll hit the 50 mark again, which would be the third time that’s been reached by a Toronto player.
Last Saturday in Vancouver he became just the second player in CFL history to record three field goals of 50 or more yards in the same game, joining Justin Medlock, who achieved that feat in 2009 while a member of the Argos.
It’s not like the Kosovo born, St. Catharines raised kicker has been feasting on chip shots. His seven field goals of 50 or more yards leads the CFL, as do his 19 field goals from 40 yards or longer.
When asked what’s gone right this year, the 35-year-old was quick to credit long snapper Adam Guillemette and holder John Haggerty, saying another year together as a team has made things even easier.
His ability to connect on long field goals has been noticeable. In pre-game warmups it’s not unusual to see Hajrullahu attempt and usually hit field goal attempts of 72 yards. He’s even gone further than that.
“Sometimes as a kicker when you’re feeling well and the weather is nice,” he told Argonauts.ca. “The furthest I’ve gone is 77 (yards). I’ve been feeling really good, especially after the Labour Day game.”
While a 77-yarder may be pushing it in the eyes of his head coach, Ryan Dinwiddie has not been hesitant to allow Hajrullahu to attempt longer field goals. There is zero doubt the kicker has earned the confidence of the coach.
“He’s been amazing,” Dinwiddie told Argonauts.ca. “He’s been consistent. Any time you’re over 90 percent that’s pretty darn impressive. He hasn’t lost the pop in his leg, I actually think he’s got a little more this year than he had last year.”
Dinwiddie admits he’s changed his mindset about going for long three-pointers this year because of the trust he has in Hajrullahu, and that he’s also adjusted his philosophy of when to go for field goals, because there have been times the Argo offence has struggled.
“It’s based on how the offence is going,” Dinwiddie explained. “A lot of times we’ll take threes; it could be third-and-five, and the offence isn’t being as consistent as we’ve had in previous games, and we want to get some points when we’re down there (deep in the opponent’s end of the field). You’d like to be more aggressive and go for it on third down, but it depends on what the situation of the game is.”
Hajrullahu’s success, as noted earlier, has allowed him to join some rare company atop the Argos record book.
“I try not to worry about numbers too much, but it’s nice to see.” he confessed. “When you see at some of the records and see the guys that came before you, to be in the same conversation with them just shows that you’ve been doing something right. I’m thankful for it.”
It’s a strange situation. Everyone within the organization would love to see him solidify his place in Argo history, while at the same time there’s hope that he’s only needed to convert touchdowns, not settle for field goal attempts.
Whether it’s for one or three points, there’s no question the Argos are comfortable with Hajrullahu any time he’s asked to do his thing.