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The Canadian Football League has announced $10 million dollars in revenue growth for the 2025 season, pushing next year’s salary cap up to nearly $6.3 million.
“The energy around our sport has never been stronger,” commissioner Stewart Johnston said in a statement. “We’re seeing meaningful growth in fan engagement and revenue, and we’re channelling that momentum back into the league. As our business expands, the players who make our game outstanding are sharing in the upside, reinforcing a model built for long-term success.”
In accordance with the collective bargaining agreement, revenue growth in excess of the baseline established in the previous season triggers a sharing formula with the Canadian Football League Players’ Association. In total, defined league revenue has grown by $31 million over the 2022 baseline figure that was negotiated when the current CBA came into effect.
The CFLPA has allocated the majority of their revenue share from 2025 to the league’s 2026 salary cap, which will increase by $218,149 to $6,280,514. The 2025 salary cap settled at $6,062,365 after the revenue-sharing model was triggered for the first time.
“Our revenue-sharing model demonstrates what’s possible when players and the League work collectively,” CFLPA president Solomon Elimimian said in a statement. “This isn’t just a number; it’s an investment in our players’ careers, their families, and the long-term health of the game. As the talent that drives fan interest, it’s essential that player well-being continues to grow alongside the League’s growth.”
In addition to the salary cap increase, the CFLPA has allocated an additional $50,000 per team towards preseason compensation for veteran players.
According to the CBA, the CFL’s baseline mark for defined league revenue takes into account income for the league itself and its nine franchises. It was first established in 2022 and is updated if revenues exceed the baseline in subsequent seasons, with that growth triggering revenue sharing with the CFLPA.
For every dollar that revenue increased above the baseline in 2025, 27 cents could be allocated to the salary cap, which is then split evenly between all nine teams. However, the union has the option to take a portion of that money and apply it to direct forms of player compensation, which they have done with the preseason pay allotment.
“This structure was the result of the players’ determination and resolve at the bargaining table,” CFLPA executive director Dave Mackie wrote in a memo to the membership. “We represent the talent that fans pay to see; it’s vital that our members’ compensation continues to rise as the league sees continuous growth.”
The salary cap was altered by revenue growth for the first time in 2025, when it jumped from $5.65 million to $6.06 million. That 7.3 percent bump marked the second-largest salary cap increase in CFL history, though it was announced on the eve of free agency and came as a surprise to teams.
Some franchises elected not to utilize the new funds initially due to the uncertainty, which later led to accusations that teams were stashing healthy players on injured reserve with “load management” designations to meet minimum spending requirements. Following a grievance filed by the CFLPA, the CFL granted each team a $50,000 salary cap exemption in order to ensure proper compensation for players on the active roster.
The league committed to more information transparency with the CFLPA this offseason and firm deadlines in order to create greater clarity and announce the final salary cap number before the start of free agency. It appears they have delivered on that promise, with a week remaining before the opening of the communication window on February 1.