1988 CFL season

The 1988 CFL season is considered to be the 35th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 31st Canadian Football League season.

CFL News in 1988

The Canadian Football Network reached an agreement with the CFL to extend its network for two more seasons.

Game rosters were revised to consist of 20-Non Imports, 14-Imports and 2-Quarterbacks. The reserve list was lowered from 4 players to 2 players. In addition, if a team decided to dress 14-Imports, one of those imports had to be designated as a special teams player.

On Monday, December 12, the CFL Board of Governors appointed Roy McMurty as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer and Bill Baker as President/Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Douglas Mitchell as the league's commissioner (both McMurtry and Baker served as the league's de facto co-commissioners for the 1989 season). Their appointments were confirmed on Sunday, January 1, 1989. The CFL Board of Governors also approved the sale of the Toronto Argonauts from Carling O'Keefe Breweries to Harry Ornest.

Regular season standings

Final regular season standings

• Bold text means that they have clinched the playoffs.
• Edmonton and Toronto have first round byes.

Grey Cup playoffs

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were the 1988 Grey Cup champions, defeating the BC Lions 22–21, at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. This was the first Grey Cup game between two teams from west of Ontario, and the first to be won by a team which had only a .500 season. The Blue Bombers' James Murphy (WR) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Offence and Michael Gray (DT) was named Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player on Defence, while Bob Cameron (P) was named the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian.

Playoff bracket

CFL Leaders

• CFL Passing Leaders
• CFL Rushing Leaders
• CFL Receiving Leaders

1988 CFL All-Stars

Special teams

• P – Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• K – Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• ST – Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

1988 Eastern All-Stars

Special teams

• P – Bob Cameron, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• K – Lance Chomyc, Toronto Argonauts
• ST – Earl Winfield, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

1988 Western All-Stars

Special teams

• P – Jerry Kauric, Edmonton Eskimos
• K – Dave Ridgway, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• ST – Henry Williams, Edmonton Eskimos

1988 CFL Awards

• CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – David Williams (WR), BC Lions
• CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard (SB), Saskatchewan Roughriders
• CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Grover Covington (DE), Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award – Roger Aldag (OG), Saskatchewan Roughriders
• CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award – Orville Lee (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders
• CFLPA's Outstanding Community Service Award – Hector Pothier (OT), Edmonton Eskimos
• CFL's Coach of the Year – Mike Riley, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

References