The 2001 CFL season is considered to be the 48th season in modern-day

Canadian football Canadian football, or simply football, is a Sports in Canada, sport in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete on a field long and wide, attempting to advance a Ball (gridiron football), pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposi ...

, although it is officially the 44th

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

season.

CFL news in 2001

The Canadian Football League were able to get new corporate partnerships who bought into the philosophy of "less is more". Television ratings grew again, especially in the ages 13–34 category, in 2001. TSN saw a ratings growth of 55%, while RDS grew by 116%. The CFL suspended its Week 11 games in respect to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The CFL officially returned to

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

when they were guaranteed an expansion franchise on October 16. The ownership group led by Brad Watters unveiled the new franchise as the

Ottawa Renegades The Ottawa Renegades were a Canadian Football League franchise based in Ottawa, Ontario founded in 2002, six years after the storied Ottawa Rough Riders folded. After four seasons, the Renegades franchise was suspended indefinitely by the league d ...

, and began play the next season. The ownership group were also guaranteed the 92nd annual Grey Cup game in 2004. About 65,255 fans bought tickets to watch the 89th Grey Cup game at

Olympic Stadium ''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, making it the second largest attendance draw in CFL history. The Canadian Football League offices in downtown

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

moved to Wellington St. East, after having their offices at Eglinton St. for the last 10 years. Records: Saskatchewan's Paul McCallum broke the record for longest field goal in CFL history by booting a 62-yard field goal against the

Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at Commonwealth Stadium. The E ...

on October 27, 2001 in a 12–3 victory at Taylor Fieldbr>
The

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division (CFL), West division. They play thei ...

tied a CFL record by winning 12 consecutive games

The 2001 CFL season, along with the

1999 CFL season The 1999 CFL season is considered to be the 46th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 42nd Canadian Football League season. CFL News in 1999 The CFL enters the final season of the 1900s with increased growt ...

, would be one of the closest times when an East Division team could have crossed over to the West Division for that division's last playoff spot since the introduction of the crossover in 1997. The Toronto Argonauts had to only win one more game to go 8–10 (1 OTL), to beat the BC Lions final standings by an overtime loss advantage, or the Lions had to lose a game for the same result. This was settled in the last game of the season for both teams. The opposing team, which was the same team for both, was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, longtime rivals of Toronto. The Tiger-Cats were defeated by BC, but defeated Toronto, ensuring no crossover. Close wins and losses by both teams against the Saskatchewan Roughriders also played a role in the final standing outcome.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

''Note: GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, Pts = Points'' *Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs. *''Teams losing in overtime are awarded one point.'' *''Edmonton and Winnipeg both have first round byes.''

Grey Cup playoffs

The

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium a ...

are the 2001

Grey Cup The Grey Cup () is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested between the winners ...

Champions, defeating the heavily-favoured

27–19 at

. The Calgary Stampeders became the second team in history to have a regular-season losing record to win the Grey Cup. The Stampeders'

Marcus Crandell Marcus Cornelius Crandell (born January 6, 1974) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback and coach. He was most recently the offensive coordinator of the Saskatchewan Huskies of the University of Saskatchewan. He played 1 ...

(QB) was named the

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is awarded annually since 1959 to the player of the winning team who deemed to have had the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game. This award is prese ...

and Aldi Henry (DB) was the

Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian The Dick Suderman Trophy () for the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian is awarded annually to the Canadian player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup game, the championship of the Canadian Football League. This award is presented bef ...

Playoff bracket

CFL Leaders

CFL Passing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas Western Interprovincial Football Union, WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. Passing ya ...

CFL Rushing Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also *List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders The CFL was offic ...

CFL Receiving Leaders The CFL was officially formed in 1958. Statistics for the IRFU/Eastern Division date back to 1954 whereas WIFU/Western Division statistics date back to 1950. See also * List of Canadian Football League annual passing leaders * List of Canadia ...

2001 CFL All-Stars

Offence

*QB – Khari Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB –

Kelvin Anderson Kelvin Anderson (born February 4, 1972) is an American former professional football player. As a running back, he rushed for over 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL), a league record. He won the CFL's Gr ...

, Calgary Stampeders *RB – Michael Jenkins, Toronto Argonauts *SB – Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Terry Vaughn, Edmonton Eskimos *WR – Travis Moore, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Ed Hervey, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders *OG – Brett MacNeil, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OT – Dave Mudge, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Elfrid Payton, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Joe Montford, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Terry Ray, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Barrin Simpson, BC Lions *LB – Chris Shelling, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *CB – Eric Carter, BC Lions *CB – Wayne Shaw, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Juran Bolden, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Harold Nash, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DS – Rob Hitchcock, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Special teams

*P –

Terry Baker Terry Wayne Baker (born May 5, 1941) is an American former professional Gridiron football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football and college bas ...

, Montreal Alouettes *K – Paul Osbaldiston, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *ST – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2001 Western All-Stars

Offence

*QB –

Jason Maas Jason ( ; ) was an ancient Greece, ancient Greek Greek mythology, mythological hero and leader of the Argonauts, whose quest for the Golden Fleece is featured in Greek literature. He was the son of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcos. He was m ...

, Edmonton Eskimos *RB –

, Calgary Stampeders *RB – Darren Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders *SB – Marc Boerigter, Calgary Stampeders *SB – Terry Vaughn, Edmonton Eskimos *WR – Travis Moore, Calgary Stampeders *WR – Ed Hervey, Edmonton Eskimos *C – Jamie Taras, BC Lions *OG – Jay McNeil, Calgary Stampeders *OG – Andrew Greene, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OT –

Fred Childress Freddie Lee Childress (born September 17, 1966) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, p ...

, Calgary Stampeders

Defence

*DT – Doug Petersen, Edmonton Eskimos *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DE – Herman Smith, BC Lions *DE – Shonte Peoples, Saskatchewan Roughriders *LB – Terry Ray, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Barrin Simpson, BC Lions *LB – George White, Saskatchewan Roughriders *CB – Eric Carter, BC Lions *CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB – Eddie Davis, Saskatchewan Roughriders *DB – Shannon Garrett, Edmonton Eskimos *DS –

Greg Frers Gregory Frers (born August 4, 1971) is a former professional Canadian football player who played ten years in the Canadian Football League. Frers played defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions from 1993 to 200 ...

, BC Lions

Special teams

*P – Sean Fleming, Edmonton Eskimos *K – Sean Fleming, Edmonton Eskimos *ST –

Antonio Warren Antonio Warren (born November 25, 1975, in San Francisco, California) is a former Canadian Football League running back who played with the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders. Early years Warren graduated from Wilson High in the Bay Area (to ...

, Calgary Stampeders

2001 Eastern All-Stars

Offence

*QB – Khari Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *RB – Mike Pringle, Montreal Alouettes *RB – Michael Jenkins, Toronto Argonauts *SB – Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *SB – Derrell Mitchell, Toronto Argonauts *WR – Andrew Grigg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *WR – Ted Alford, Toronto Argonauts *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *OG – Jude St. John, Toronto Argonauts *OG – Brett MacNeil, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – Dave Hack, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *OT – Dave Mudge, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Defence

*DT – Doug Brown, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DT – Mike Philbrick, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Elfrid Payton, Toronto Argonauts *DE – Joe Montford, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Jason Lamar, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Sean Woodson, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *LB – Chris Shelling, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *CB – Marvin Coleman, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Wayne Shaw, Toronto Argonauts *DB – Juran Bolden, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DB – Harold Nash, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *DS – Rob Hitchcock, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Special teams

*P –

, Montreal Alouettes *K – Paul Osbaldiston, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *ST – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2001 Intergold CFLPA All-Stars

Offence

*QB – Khari Jones, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *OT – Uzooma Okeke, Montreal Alouettes *OT – Bruce Beaton, Edmonton Eskimos *OG – Andrew Greene, Saskatchewan Roughriders *OG – Steve Hardin, BC Lions *C – Bryan Chiu, Montreal Alouettes *RB –

, Calgary Stampeders *FB –

Sean Millington Sean Millington (born February 1, 1968) is a Canadian former professional football fullback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He currently does colour commentary for the CFL’s website and the CBC. He has also acted in several movies and ...

, BC Lions *SB – Derrell Mitchell, Toronto Argonauts *SB – Terry Vaughn, Edmonton Eskimos *WR – Milt Stegall, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *WR – Travis Moore, Calgary Stampeders

Defence

*DE – Joe Montford, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *DE – Elfrid Payton, Toronto Argonauts *DT – Joe Fleming, Calgary Stampeders *DT – Doug Petersen, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Terry Ray, Edmonton Eskimos *LB – Alondra Johnson, Calgary Stampeders *LB – Lamar McGriggs, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Juran Bolden, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *CB – Omarr Morgan, Saskatchewan Roughriders *HB – Harold Nash, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *HB – Ricky Bell, Calgary Stampeders *S –

, Calgary Stampeders

Special teams

*K – Paul Osbaldiston, Hamilton Tiger-Cats *P –

, Montreal Alouettes *ST – Charles Roberts, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Head coach

* Dave Ritchie, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

2001 CFL Awards

* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Khari Jones (QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award The Most Outstanding Canadian Award is annually awarded to the best Canadian player in the Canadian Football League. The two nominees for the award are the Lew Hayman Trophy winner from the East Division, and the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy winne ...

– Doug Brown (DT), Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award The Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award is annually awarded to the best defensive player in the Canadian football League. The winner of the award is selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada along with the head coaches in the CFL. ...

– Joe Montford (DE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats * CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Dave Mudge (OT), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Barrin Simpson (LB), BC Lions * CFL's Most Outstanding Special Teams Award – Charles Roberts (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers * CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award – Rick Walters (SB), Edmonton Eskimos * CFL's Coach of the Year – Dave Ritchie, Winnipeg Blue Bombers *

Commissioner's Award The Commissioner's Award is presented annually by the Commissioner of the Canadian Football League to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated dedication and made a significant contribution to Canadian Football. The award was first introd ...

Robert Wetenhall Robert Carl "Bob" Wetenhall Sr. (February 14, 1935 – September 3, 2021) was an American businessman who owned the Montreal Alouettes Football Club of the Canadian Football League from 1997 through 2018. Biography Robert (Bob) Wetenhall was bo ...

and Larry Smith, Montreal Alouettes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cfl 2001 in Canadian football

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...