Photo courtesy: Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts general manager Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons spoke to the media from the CFL’s winter meetings in Calgary, marking the first time he’s taken questions regarding the league’s investigation into his team’s alleged tampering.
With that said, he didn’t answer any of them.
“The details of that, I wasn’t in — that was more of a presidential thing, so I don’t know all the details of that,” he said.
Shortly after the Grey Cup, it was reported that Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace declined an interview for Toronto’s then-vacant head coaching position. Jeremy O’Day, the longtime general manager in Saskatchewan, seemed surprised by the report and indicated the Argonauts never asked for permission to speak with Mace.
In December, the league confirmed to 3DownNation that an investigation had been conducted and cited its policy that discipline involving teams or staff is not announced. Toronto declined a request for comment.
Clemons claimed he’s unaware if any discipline was levied against his team.
“I don’t know exactly,” he said. “I don’t know everything, so I won’t meddle with it.”
The eight-time Grey Cup champion also declined to discuss the departure of assistant general manager John Murphy, suggesting it would be unfair to do so.
When pressed by 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk about fans wanting to know why Murphy wasn’t retained for 2026, Clemons suggested he’s open to telling them.
“If one of them comes up to me, then there’s a good chance I will answer them,” he said.
CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston also declined to shed any light on the league’s investigation when speaking to the media from the winter meetings.
“We keep those conversations to ourselves,” he said. “I’ve got no comment on that.”
Based on his comments, it doesn’t seem like Clemons even wants to be Toronto’s general manager. Mike Miller signed a three-year contract to replace Ryan Dinwiddie as head coach, but Clemons doesn’t appear to have a deal in place beyond 2026.
When questioned about it, the Hall of Fame running back, receiver, and return specialist indicated he’s asked MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley for a reduced role with the team.
“The idea when I came in in 2019 at the end of the season there was that I was there to get things back on track. We’ve been on track, (but we’re) back off the track now, and so I’m not exactly sure what that means,” he said.
“I love the team, I love the game and all of that, but I also love my family and the foundation and those things, and so I’ve requested sort of a concept of a transition at some point. Keith has promised me a look at what that would be, but we’ll stay in this seat I guess as long as — well, it’s indefinite, let’s say it that way.”
When asked to expand on what his future with the Argonauts might look like, Clemons offered the following clarification.
“Being with the organization in a broader sense is what the idea is, and so that doesn’t mean that I won’t be with the team,” he said. “It would probably mean that my time would be reduced with the team.”
The 61-year-old served a decade-long stint as Toronto’s vice-chairman prior to becoming the team’s general manager near the end of the 2019 season. Despite the Argonauts finishing 5-13 in 2025, Clemons still has an impressive 62-46 record as the team’s general manager with Grey Cup victories in 2022 and 2024.
The two newcomers to Toronto’s personnel department for 2026 are John Hufnagel and Jim Barker. Hufnagel spent the last 18 years with the Calgary Stampeders, while Barker returned for a fourth stint with the team following his tenure at the CFL on TSN.
“(Hufnagel) is so helpful in everything football, and then Jim is responsible for the talent side. He will be bringing the talent in and has built championship teams,” said Clemons.
“Having a brand new (head) coach is why we went that route. We thought it was important that he had all the support that he could possibly need — at least as much as the salary cap would allow — and so we feel we found two of the very best guys that he could ever have to come alongside of him.”
Clemons clearly knows how to add people to his personnel department — just don’t ask him how the last guy left (unless you’re a fan, apparently).